washington battle run u.s. consumer financial protection bureau cfpb come months set court obama-era holdovers seek maintain control powerful watchdog president donald trump seek curb cfpb staff return work monday u.s. thanksgiving holiday break leave scratch head charge outgo director richard cordray formally resign friday elevate former chief staff leandra english replace temporarily hours late president donald trump seek over-rule move name budget chief mick mulvaney harsh critic agency act director trump want mulvaney run cfpb get permanent successor confirm senate process could take months yet another twist late sunday english sue trump administration seek block mulvaney appointment move mean federal court decide law apply fill temporary leadership vacancy relatively new agency unprecedented battle reflect compete visions regulate u.s. financial system create wake financial crisis protect consumers predatory lend cfpb hat republicans think wield much power burden bank lenders unnecessary red tape president barack obama appoint cordray democrat cfpb first director develop reputation draft aggressive rule curb products payday loan issue multimillion dollar fin large financial institutions like well fargo wfc.n tweet weekend trump call agency total disaster devastate financial institutions pledge roll back many obama-era financial regulations liberal group consumer advocate plan rally front cfpb headquarter monday morning demonstrate support agency act director mulvaney would power make far-reaching decisions enforcement supervision financial firm trump administration officials say president power appoint act director 1998 federal vacancies reform act powerful boost cfpb general counsel mary mcleod issue three-page memo agree advise bureau personnel act consistently understand director mulvaney act director cfpb mcleod memo date november 25 state advice stick throats many cfpb staffers mulvaney describe agency sad sick joke try get rid lawmaker house representatives english allude mulvaney view cfpb lawsuit argue 2010 dodd-frank wall street reform law create cfpb stipulate deputy director would take interim basis director depart cordray name english deputy director say would become act director cfpb brainchild elizabeth warren democratic senator liberal firebrand weekend lawmakers party line give oppose view role dick durbin u.s. senate democrat tell cnn sunday wall street hat like devil hat holy water legal battle rag cfpb enforcement work put limbo anything agency fail could subject challenge cloud remove say harvard law school professor laurence tribe cfpb prepare sue santander san.mc early week allege spanish bank overcharge borrowers auto loan two source familiar plan tell reuters last week clear lawsuit go ahead agency rule-making ability already halt republican-controlled congress last month kill cfpb rule allow borrowers join together sue lenders even english prevail trump permanent nominee expect neutralize much cfpb work name mention lobbyists potential permanent successors cordray include republican representatives jeb hensarling french hill cfpb critics rival side square succession u.s. consumer finance agency