BE YOUR OWN CONSUMER WATCHDOG

Big changes are afoot at federal agencies. Make these moves to protect yourself financially.

- BY LAURA PETRECCA

SINCE his return to the White House, President Trump has launched an aggressive campaign to cut government costs and streamline operations. In the process, he's revamping federal agencies that handle everything from tax returns and Social Security payments to consumer financial protections.

Trump's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has instituted hiring freezes, mass layoffs and reorganizations at agencies such as the IRS, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Social Security Administration. In addition, the president dismissed several Democratic agency commissioners and signed an executive order requiring government agencies to identify 10 existing rules, regulations or guidance documents to be repealed for every new one issued.

Supporters applaud the push for reduced bureaucracy. Critics are concerned about weakened consumer protections and DOGE's potential access to sensitive consumer data, such as Social Security numbers.