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Rohit Chopra to lead California’s consumer agency
Chopra previously served as a commissioner at the Federal Trade Commission, where he worked on antitrust enforcement and corporate accountability measures.
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Malvika Choudhary - Wed, 13, May 2026
- 14:48 EDT
- 23
Rohit Chopra / LinkedIn/ Rohit Chopra
California Governor Gavin Newsom appointed former federal regulator Rohit Chopra as the Secretary of the state’s newly created Business and Consumer Services Agency (BCSA).
The announcement comes as California seeks to expand oversight of businesses and consumer protections in areas including financial services, healthcare, technology, and online privacy. The new agency is scheduled to officially launch on July 1.
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Chopra previously served as Director of the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) from 2021 to 2025 and earlier as a Commissioner of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). During his tenure at the CFPB, the agency recovered nearly $10 billion in refunds and penalties from companies accused of violating consumer protection laws, according to the release.
Announcing the appointment, Newsom said Chopra had demonstrated “strong and fearless” leadership in protecting consumers and working families.
“As the Trump administration turns its back on consumers, we need strong and fearless leaders to keep protecting Californians,” Newsom said. “Rohit Chopra has shown exactly that kind of leadership — taking bold action, standing up for working families, and enforcing real consumer protections.”
Chopra said California would continue pursuing stronger oversight and accountability measures even as federal agencies reduce enforcement efforts.
“While federal agencies are making life more expensive and enriching special interests, California will be firing on all cylinders to make sure markets aren’t rigged against families and small businesses,” Chopra said. “By bringing together dozens of boards, bureaus, and departments under one roof, California’s new agency will work to protect the public in health care, technology, financial services, and more.”
The Business and Consumer Services Agency was established through a government reorganization initiated by Newsom last year.
The agency will consolidate multiple departments and regulatory bodies, including the Department of Consumer Affairs, Department of Real Estate, Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, Department of Cannabis Control, and the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.
The governor’s office said the new agency would support California’s broader affordability and consumer protection agenda, including efforts to curb junk fees, lower prescription drug costs through CalRx, strengthen privacy protections, and increase corporate transparency.
Chopra was unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate in 2018 after being nominated by then-President Donald Trump to serve on the FTC. Before entering federal service, he worked on consumer finance issues and banking reform.
He holds a Master of Business Administration from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Harvard University. He also received a Fulbright Fellowship to South Korea.
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