WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is considering bypassing the Senate and naming a temporary director of his new consumer-protection agency, the White House said Tuesday.
That could be a particularly attractive option if Obama appoints Elizabeth Warren, the well-known yet polarizing consumer advocate. Warren is considered the leading candidate to head the bureau, but her unpopularity with the financial industry could lead to contentious confirmation hearings in the Senate.
The financial regulatory law Obama signed into law permits the Treasury Department to run the bureau while the director’s Senate confirmation is pending. Warren — or any nominee — could serve as its interim head while under the supervision of the Treasury.
White House spokesman Bill Burton said Tuesday that was “certainly an option that the president is considering.” Burton said Obama would make an announcement on the post “very soon.” Some lawmakers and advocacy groups are concerned that using an interim appointment to evade Senate hearings could cause problems for the agency and its leader.
A recess appointment is another option available to Obama, allowing him to appoint a director when the Senate is out of session. The Associated Press
