Dodd–Frank Act

The Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, commonly referred to as the Dodd–Frank Act, is a United States federal law enacted on July 21, 2010, as the primary legislative response to the 2007–2008 financial crisis—the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. Named for its sponsors, Senator Chris Dodd and Representative Barney Frank, the law was signed by President Barack Obama on July 21, 2010. Its stated purposes are to promote financial stability, end "too big to fail," prevent taxpayer-funded bailouts, and protect consumers from abusive financial practices. The act reorganized financial regulation through three major reforms: it created the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to protect consumers against predatory lending and unfair financial practices; it established the Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC) to monitor systemic risks and designate firms as "systemically important"; and it created the Orderly Liquidation Authority to wind down large failing financial institutions without taxpayer bailouts. Key regulatory changes include the Volcker Rule, which restricts banks from making speculative investments with depositor funds; requirements for derivatives to be traded through regulated clearinghouses; enhanced Federal Reserve oversight of large financial institutions; and new standards for mortgage lending and credit rating agencies. The law also strengthened whistleblower protections and established data collection requirements for small business lending. Dodd–Frank is considered one of the most significant financial laws since the New Deal. The CFPB has returned over $21 billion to consumers harmed by illegal practices. Critics argued the law imposed excessive compliance costs on smaller financial institutions, and in 2018, the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act rolled back certain requirements, particularly for banks with assets below $250 billion.