BETHESDA, Md. (BRAIN) — The Consumer Product Safety Commission's 2026 Performance Budget Request to Congress calls for restructuring the agency, reducing funding by 10.5%, and staffing by 14%.
In the executive summary of the budget priorities, the CPSC asks Congress to approve President Trump's 2026 federal budget proposal to reorganize and transfer its functions to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The Assistant Secretary for Consumer Product Safety (ASCPS) would replace the CPSC and be responsible for public safety. The HHS is led by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Currently leading the CPSC is Acting Chairman Peter A. Feldman.
"Until the enactment of authorizing legislation to reorganize, the CPSC will continue to carry out its mission to protect the public as a standalone agency," according to the executive summary.
Meanwhile, the CPSC budget for 2026 is proposed to be reduced from $150.9 million to $135 million. In 2025, the CPSC has 534 full-time employees; that number is proposed to be cut to 459, a loss of 75 jobs.
"The CPSC's budget request puts partisanship before product safety," said Daniel Greene, senior director of Consumer Protection & Product Safety, in a statement to advocate group The National Consumers League. "Eliminating the independence and nonpartisanship of the CPSC could result in a lack of vigorous standard setting, oversight, and enforcement. Coupled with deep cuts to resources and staff, this dangerous budget proposal could lead to more preventable injuries and deaths. We call on Congress to reject this budget request and provide the CPSC with the funding, personnel, and authorities to carry out its lifesaving mission."
The partisan rift first occurred within the CPSC during its April vote to advance a proposed e-mobility device and lithium-ion battery testing standards to the 60-day public comment period. The commission's three Democratic members voted for the proposal to the objection of the two Republican commissioners, including Feldman. A CPSC spokesperson told BRAIN via email in mid-May that the commission doesn’t have any updates on when or if the e-mobility device and lithium-ion battery testing standards proposal will be published in the Federal Register for comments.
On May 9, President Trump, through the Department of Government Efficiency, fired the trio when they objected to staff firings at the agency. On behalf of Mary T. Boyle, Alexander Hoehn-Saric, and Richard Trumka Jr., Public Citizen filed a lawsuit on May 21, maintaining that under the Consumer Product Safety Act, commissioners can be removed by the President before the end of their terms only "for neglect of duty or malfeasance in office but for no other cause" as stated by Congress.
