U.S. Senator Tim Scott released a statement, carried by the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs minority, criticising the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s final rule on medical debt. He argued the rule does not address underlying drivers of medical debt and would instead reduce access to credit and health care services while increasing risks for lenders and medical providers, and said he would work with the next CFPB Director to undo the resulting damage. As background, Scott pointed to a 17 November letter urging the White House to direct financial and housing regulators to stop rulemaking activity and for President Biden to withdraw nominations before the committee. He also cited a December Senate Banking Committee hearing in which he challenged CFPB Director Rohit Chopra for continuing rulemaking despite his calls to pause, including after prudential regulators agreed to shelve proposals and final rules ahead of President Trump’s inauguration.