Eva Steege seems to be an unlikely combat power in the Trump administration’s counterattack against mass shootings. The 83-year-old retired Lutheran pastor was unable to walk in hospice care when she was asked to join a group trying to stop the filth caused by the government to the Consumer Financial Protection Agency.

"It took us about five minutes to decide that it was a good thing," her husband, Ted Steege, 82, told CBS News in an interview.

Ted took a place in the lawsuit when Eva died in March, which so far prevented the agency from being demolished and generated hundreds of pages of internal communications, providing new revelations for Doge's efforts to cut federal labor. Steege First 100 days in Washington.

"We saw an opportunity not only to get what we are entitled to, but to do something that would change the lives of many dedicated workers and people across the country who suffered injustice, quiet things that no one noticed," Ted Steege said.

The injustice the couple faces is Eva's decision in her 60s to fulfill her lifelong dream of becoming a pastor. To cover her seminary tuition, Steege said the couple sold the house and took on $43,000 in debt.

They have faithfully paid off their debts over the years, but as of January, they still believe they owe about $17,000. Under the advice of Lutheran Social Services, the couple contacted the Consumer Financial Protection Agency to help participate in the federal loan forgiveness program.

Congress was formed after the 2008 financial crisis, known as the CFPB, whose mission is to protect consumers from financial fraud and shady lending practices. Workers reviewing the Steeges case found that Steeges didn't need loan forgiveness at all - in fact, they had paid more than $15,000 in refunds.

The couple is full of hope and plans to meet with CFPB staff on February 10. In the morning, the Trump administration issued an order to stop work Effectively close Agent.

"An email said, sorry, we have different instructions," Steege said. "We can't meet you."

A sad husband joins the court battle that opens fire at the threshold

Now, he is working to restore the bureau’s functions by avoiding mass dismissals from his employees. The battle is underway in federal court, and earlier this month, an appeals judge issued a ruling to temporarily block the Trump administration's latest efforts to cut labor.

The ruling is a series of documents that occur in the case, making public emails, internal chats and sworn employees' statements. The documents show that there was a crazy push in April for agency leadership and campaign officials to fire nearly 1,500 employees, or about 90% of CFPB employees.

Helping for the massive release was a 25-year-old Mendorge official named Gavin Kliger who helped at least six federal agencies implement cuts. Kliger had no experience with the federal government before working.

CBS News arrived at Klick by phone, but he refused to ask for comments or answer questions. A White House spokesman raised the idea that Klicker “manages” CFPB shooting in a statement, but did not clarify his role. The message was in a public chat in court documents, and the message showed Klicker claimed he would be "doing this".

According to the affidavit of the CFPB employee, Kliger allegedly asked staff to prepare for the launch notice for 36 consecutive hours: "He doesn't believe that people who are not working fast enough scream and call them incompetent."

A White House spokesman said the allegations against Klicker were "a key mission for the Governor to make the administration more effective."

Former director questioned the claim of "huge waste"

Before the court was put on hold, the CFPB was fired by Trump-appointed chief legal officer, saying it was “better to align with the government police and the right-sized bureau, and claimed “the leadership found huge waste.”

The CFPB did not respond to requests for comment regarding the STEEGES case, or agency leadership is working to lower its workforce.

In an interview with CBS News, former CFPB director Rohit Chopra said the waste was "completely compensated". He said the bureau would cease operations if the government's layoffs were allowed to proceed.

"This is a 'refund' to the police to take care of Wall Street and the financial industry," Chopra said.

Chopra said helping borrowers like Ted and Eva Steege, who hope to challenge predatory lending is at the heart of the institution’s mission.

"Every day, thousands of people come to CFPB for help, all of which seem to be shut down," he said.

As the court fights against the government, Ted Steege continues to pursue Eva's reimbursement requirements, hoping the agency will survive long enough to help deliver the money she owes.

“She absolutely wants to have the money back to be a part of our legacy and do better for our children and grandchildren,” he said.