[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 243 (Monday, December 22, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59805-59807]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-23611]



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CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION BUREAU

[Docket No: CFPB-2025-0054]


Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records

AGENCY: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

ACTION: Notice of a modified system of records.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, the Consumer 
Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB or Bureau) proposes to modify a 
current Privacy Act System of Records titled, ``CFPB.009 Employee 
Administrative Records System.'' This system of records enables the 
CFPB to manage and administer human capital functions, including 
personnel actions, payroll, human resources, time and attendance, 
leave, insurance, tax, retirement and other employee benefits, among 
others.

DATES: Comments must be received no later than January 21, 2026. The 
new system of records will be effective January 21, 2026 unless the 
comments received result in a contrary determination.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by the title and docket 
number (see above Docket No. CFPB-2025-0054), by any of the following 
methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments. A brief summary of 
this document will be available at https://www.regulations.gov/docket/
CFPB-2025-0054.
     Email: [email protected]. Include Docket No. CFPB-2025-0054 
in the subject line of the email.
     Mail/Hand Delivery/Courier: Kathryn Fong, Chief Privacy 
Officer, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, 1700 G Street NW, 
Washington, DC 20552, (202) 435-7058. Because paper mail in the 
Washington, DC area and at CFPB is subject to delay, commenters are 
encouraged to submit comments electronically.
    All submissions must include the agency name and docket number for 
this notice. In general, all comments received will be posted without 
change to http://www.regulations.gov. All comments, including 
attachments and other supporting materials, will become part of the 
public record and subject to public disclosure. You should submit only 
information that you wish to make available publicly. Sensitive 
personal information, such as account numbers or Social Security 
numbers, should not be included.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathryn Fong, Chief Privacy Officer, 
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, 1700 G Street NW, Washington, DC 
20552; (202) 435-7058. If you require this document in an alternative 
electronic format, please contact [email protected]. Please 
do not submit comments to this email box.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, 
5 U.S.C. 552a, the CFPB is modifying a system of records titled, 
``CFPB.009 Employee Administrative Records System.'' This modified 
system of records includes a new routine use to enable disclosure of 
records to the Department of Treasury, pursuant to Executive Order 
14249, Protecting America's Bank Account Against Fraud, Waste, and 
Abuse and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Memorandum M-25-32, 
Preventing Improper Payments and Protecting Privacy Through Do Not Pay. 
CFPB is also modifying the purpose to clarify that records may be used 
to prevent improper payment of funds.
    The CFPB is also making non-substantive revisions to this SORN to 
align with the Office of Management and Budget's recommended model in 
Circular A-108, Appendix II. The report of the revised system of 
records has been submitted to the Committee on Oversight and Government 
Reform of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Homeland 
Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate, and the Office of 
Management and Budget, pursuant to Circular A-108, ``Federal Agency 
Responsibilities for Review, Reporting, and Publication under the 
Privacy Act'' (Dec. 2016) and the Privacy Act of 1974, 5 U.S.C. 
552a(r).
SYSTEM NAME AND NUMBER:
    CFPB.009--Employee Administrative Records System.

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION:
    Unclassified.

SYSTEM LOCATION:
    Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, 1700 G Street NW, Washington, 
DC 20552.

SYSTEM MANAGER(S):
    Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Chief Operating Officer, 1700 
G Street NW, Washington, DC 20552.

AUTHORITY FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE SYSTEM:
    12 U.S.C. 5492-93, 5511; 31 U.S.C. 3721; 42 U.S.C. 2000e-16; 42 
U.S.C. 1981 note.

PURPOSE(S) OF THE SYSTEM:
    The purpose of the system is to enable the Bureau to manage and 
administer human capital functions, including personnel actions, 
payroll, human resources, time and attendance, leave, insurance, tax, 
retirement and other employee benefits, employee claims for loss or 
damage to personal property, alternative dispute resolution processes, 
and to prepare related reports to other Federal agencies. The 
information will also be used for administrative purposes to ensure 
quality control, performance, and improving management processes, and 
prevent improper payment of funds.

CATEGORIES OF INDIVIDUALS COVERED BY THE SYSTEM:
    Current and former Bureau employees, volunteers, detailees, 
applicants, and persons who work at the Bureau (collectively 
employees), and their named dependents and/or beneficiaries, their 
named emergency contacts, and individuals who have been extended offers 
of employment.

CATEGORIES OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM:
    Records in this system may contain identifiable information about 
individuals including, without limitation: (1) Identification and 
contact information, including name, address, email address, phone 
number and other contact information; (2) employee emergency contact 
information, including name, phone number, relationship to employee or 
emergency contact; (3) Social Security number (SSN), employee ID 
number, organization code, pay rate, salary, grade, length of service, 
and other related pay and leave records including payroll data; (4) 
biographic and demographic data, including date of birth and marital or 
domestic partnership status; (5) employment-related information such as 
performance reports, training, professional licenses, certification, 
and memberships information, alternative dispute resolution processes, 
fitness center membership information, union dues, employee claims for 
loss or damage to personal property, and other information related to 
employment by the Bureau; (6) benefits data, such as health, life, 
travel, and disability insurance information; (7) retirement benefits 
information and flexible spending account information; and (8) time and 
attendance records.
    General personnel and administrative records contained in this 
system are covered under the government-wide systems of records notice 
published by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM/GOVT-1). This 
system

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complements OPM/GOVT-1 and this notice incorporates by reference but 
does not repeat all the information contained in OPM/GOVT-1.

RECORD SOURCE CATEGORIES:
    Information in this system is obtained from individuals and 
entities associated with benefits, retirement, human resource, and 
payroll systems administration.

ROUTINE USES OF RECORDS MAINTAINED IN THE SYSTEM, INCLUDING CATEGORIES 
OF USERS AND THE PURPOSES OF SUCH USES:
    In addition to those disclosures generally permitted under 5 U.S.C. 
552a(b) of the Privacy Act, and consistent with the CFPB's Disclosure 
of Records and Information Rules, promulgated at 12 CFR part 1070, all 
or a portion of the records or information contained in this system may 
be disclosed outside the CFPB as a routine use to:
    (1) Appropriate agencies, entities, and persons when (a) the Bureau 
suspects or has confirmed that there has been a breach of the system of 
records; (b) the Bureau has determined that as a result of the 
suspected or confirmed breach there is a risk of harm to individuals, 
the Bureau (including its information systems, programs, and 
operations), the federal government, or national security; and (c) the 
disclosure made to such agencies, entities, and persons is reasonably 
necessary to assist in connection with the Bureau's efforts to respond 
to the suspected or confirmed breach or to prevent, minimize, or remedy 
such harm.
    (2) Another Federal agency or entity, when the Bureau determines 
that information from this system of records is reasonably necessary to 
assist the recipient agency or entity in (a) responding to a suspected 
or confirmed breach or (b) preventing, minimizing, or remedying the 
risk of harm to individuals, the recipient agency or entity (including 
its information systems, programs, and operations), the Federal 
government, or national security, resulting from a suspected or 
confirmed breach.
    (3) Another Federal or State agency to (a) permit a decision as to 
access, amendment, or correction of records to be made in consultation 
with or by that agency, or (b) verify the identity of an individual or 
the accuracy of information submitted by an individual who has 
requested access to or amendment or correction of records.
    (4) The Executive Office of the President in response to an inquiry 
from that office made at the request of the subject of a record or a 
third party on that person's behalf.
    (5) Congressional offices in response to an inquiry made at the 
request of the individual to whom the record pertains.
    (6) Contractors, agents, or other authorized individuals performing 
work on a contract, service, cooperative agreement, job, or other 
activity on behalf of the Bureau or the U.S. Government and who have a 
need to access the information in the performance of their mission, 
including duties or activities.
    (7) The Department of Justice (DOJ) for its use in providing legal 
advice to the Bureau or in representing the Bureau in a proceeding 
before a court, adjudicative body, or other administrative body, where 
the use of such information by the DOJ is deemed by the Bureau to be 
relevant and necessary to the advice or proceeding, and such proceeding 
names as a party in interest:
    (a) The CFPB;
    (b) Any employee of the Bureau in their official capacity;
    (c) Any employee of the Bureau in their individual capacity where 
DOJ has agreed to represent the employee; or
    (d) The United States, where the CFPB determines that litigation is 
likely to affect the Bureau or any of its components.
    (8) A grand jury pursuant either to a Federal or State grand jury 
subpoena, or to a prosecution request that such record be released for 
the purpose of its introduction to a grand jury, where the subpoena or 
request has been specifically approved by a court. In those cases where 
the Federal Government is not a party to the proceeding, records may be 
disclosed if a subpoena has been signed by a judge.
    (9) A court, magistrate, or administrative tribunal in the course 
of an administrative proceeding or judicial proceeding, including 
disclosures to opposing counsel or witnesses (including expert 
witnesses) in the course of discovery or other pre- hearing exchanges 
of information, litigation, or settlement negotiations, where relevant 
or potentially relevant to a proceeding, or in connection with criminal 
law proceedings.
    (10) Appropriate agencies, entities, and persons to the extent 
necessary to obtain information relevant to current and former Bureau 
employees' benefits, compensation, and employment.
    (11) Appropriate Federal, State, local, foreign, tribal, or self-
regulatory organizations or agencies responsible for investigating, 
prosecuting, enforcing, implementing, issuing, or carrying out a 
statute, rule, regulation, order, policy, or license if the information 
may be relevant to a potential violation of civil or criminal law, 
rule, regulation, order, policy, or license.
    (12) National, State, or local income security and retirement 
agencies or entities involved in administration of employee retirement 
benefits programs (e.g., State unemployment compensation and State 
pension plans) and any of such agencies' contractors or plan 
administrators, when necessary to determine employee eligibility to 
participate in retirement or employee benefits programs, process 
employee participation in those programs, process claims with respect 
to individual employee participation in those programs, audit benefits 
paid under those programs, or perform any other administrative function 
in connection with those programs.
    (13) An executor of the estate of a current or former employee, a 
government entity probating the will of a current or former employee, a 
designated beneficiary of a current or former employee, or any person 
who is responsible for the care of a current or former employee, where 
the employee has died, has been declared mentally incompetent, or is 
under other legal disability, to the extent necessary to assist in 
obtaining any employment benefit or working condition for the current 
or former employee.
    (14) The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and other governmental 
entities that are authorized to tax employees' compensation with wage 
and tax information in accordance with a withholding agreement with the 
Bureau pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 5516, 5517, and 5520, for the purpose of 
furnishing employees with IRS Forms W-2 that report such tax 
distributions.
    (15) Unions recognized as exclusive bargaining representatives 
under the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978, 5 U.S.C. 7111, 7114.
    (16) Carriers, providers, and other Federal agencies involved in 
administration of employee retirement and benefits programs and such 
agencies' contractors or plan administrators, when necessary to 
determine employee eligibility to participate in retirement and 
benefits programs, process employee participation in those programs, 
process claims with respect to individual employee participation in 
those programs, audit benefits paid under those programs, or perform 
any other administrative function in connection with those programs and 
Federal agencies that perform payroll and personnel processing and 
employee retirement and benefits plan services under interagency 
agreements or contracts, including the issuance of

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paychecks to employees, the distribution of wages, the administration 
of deductions from paychecks for retirement and benefits programs, and 
the distribution and receipt of those deductions. These agencies 
include, without limitation, the Department of Labor, the Department of 
Veterans Affairs, the Social Security Administration, the Federal 
Retirement Thrift Investment Board, the Department of Defense, OPM, the 
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Department of the 
Treasury, and the National Finance Center at the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture.
    (17) The U.S. Department of the Treasury when disclosure of the 
information is relevant to review payment and award eligibility through 
the Do Not Pay Working System for the purpose of identifying, 
preventing, or recouping improper payments to an applicant for, or 
recipient of, Federal funds, including funds disbursed by a State 
(meaning a State of the United States, the District of Columbia, a 
territory or possession of the United States, or a federally recognized 
Indian tribe) in a state-administered, federally funded program.

POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR STORAGE OF RECORDS:
    The records are maintained in paper and electronic media. Access to 
electronic records is restricted to authorized personnel who have been 
issued non-transferrable access codes and passwords. Other records are 
maintained in locked file cabinets or rooms with access limited to 
those personnel whose official duties require access.

POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR RETRIEVAL OF RECORDS:
    Records are retrievable by a variety of fields including, without 
limitation, the individual's name, SSN, address, account number, 
transaction number, phone number, date of birth, or by some combination 
thereof.

POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR RETENTION AND DISPOSAL OF RECORDS:
    The Bureau will manage these Federal records in accordance with the 
National Archive and Records Administration (NARA) General Records 
Schedules (GRS): GRS 1.1, GRS 1.2, GRS 2.1, GRS 2.2, GRS 2.3, GRS 2.4, 
GRS 2.5, GRS 2.7, GRS 5.6, GRS 5.7, and GRS 6.4 depending on the record 
type and the corresponding disposition of that record type.

ADMINISTRATIVE, TECHNICAL, AND PHYSICAL SAFEGUARDS:
    Access to electronic records is restricted to authorized personnel 
who have been issued non-transferrable access codes and passwords. 
Other records are maintained in locked file cabinets or rooms with 
access limited to those personnel whose official duties require access.

RECORD ACCESS PROCEDURES:
    Individuals seeking notification and access to any record contained 
in this system of records may inquire in writing in accordance with 
instructions in 12 CFR 1070.50 et seq. Address such requests to: Chief 
Privacy Officer, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, 1700 G Street 
NW, Washington, DC 20552. Instructions are also provided on the CFPB 
website: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/foia-requests/submit-request/.

CONTESTING RECORD PROCEDURES:
    See ``Access Procedures'' above.

NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES:
    See ``Access Procedures'' above.

EXEMPTIONS PROMULGATED FOR THE SYSTEM:
    None.

HISTORY:
    85 FR 48510; 81 FR 27104; 83 FR 23435; 78 FR 67340; 76 FR 71327.

Kathryn Fong,
Chief Privacy Officer, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
[FR Doc. 2025-23611 Filed 12-19-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4810-AM-P