Washington, D.C. – Consumer Federation of America strongly condemns plans to eliminate the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) as part of the drastic reorganization plans for the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Eliminating the CPSC will expose all Americans—especially children—to preventable injuries and deaths.

The CPSC is responsible for protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury and deaths associated with consumer products. While the CPSC’s efforts benefit all Americans, its focus on protecting children has been among its most impactful contributions.  Since its founding five decades ago, the CSPC has dramatically reduced injuries and deaths associated with consumer products. From 1973 to 2019, crib fatalities decreased by nearly 80%—thanks in part to the CPSC’s efforts, including the implementation of a mandatory crib safety standard in 2011. Similarly, pediatric poisoning for all children decreased 80% and for children under five years old, decreased 83% from 1972 to 2020. These achievements underscore the CPSC’s essential role in safeguarding the youngest and most vulnerable members of our society.

“Eliminating the CPSC would strip Americans of the only federal agency dedicated to protecting us from dangerous consumer products, leaving families, especially children, more vulnerable to death, injury, and exploitation,” said Courtney Griffin, Director of Consumer Product Safety at Consumer Federation of America. “The CPSC delivers its life-saving results on an already tiny budget, protecting all of us with fewer resources than other federal agencies. The elimination of this agency will have an outsized, devastating impact on public safety.”

While the CPSC plays a critical role in protecting Americans—especially children—from preventable injuries and deaths, it is a remarkably small agency, with a staff of just over 500 people. Despite its limited size and budget, the CPSC consistently delivers impacts that far exceed its resources, safeguarding millions through its lifesaving work. Now more than ever, Americans need a strong CPSC. With the rapid growth of e-commerce and imported consumer products, especially from countries with less stringent safety regulations, CPSC plays a critical role to prevent unsafe and counterfeit goods from entering the U.S. market unchecked.

The HHS reorganization plan calls for the elimination of CPSC. A new staff division within the Office of Secretary under the Secretary of HSS would absorb functions and staff from the CPSC, with reduced funding.

“This plan is a reckless, extreme step towards dismantling Americans’ safety,” said Courtney Griffin. “Without a strong CPSC, dangerous products will flood American homes, and bad actors will face little risk of enforcement or recall. Greedy companies will profit while all of us, especially children, pay the price with our safety.”