The Dismantling of Consumer Safety

by Lilly Gioia

In 1972 when President Richard Nixon signed the Consumer Products Safety Act into law, Republicans and Democrats believed the things Americans buy every day should not poison, maim or kill them. Over the years we’ve mostly taken for granted that dangerous items will be recalled, the public will be warned about poorly designed baby cribs, or toys from China containing lead. When companies violated rules and endangered the public, the Consumer Products Safety Commission took action.

Since President Trump’s election things have changed dramatically. Many staff chose buyouts offered by Musk’s Dept. of Government Efficiency. Ports are no longer adequately staffed with inspectors to check for lead and other harmful chemicals on goods entering American ports from overseas.

In 2024 the Consumer Products Safety Commission issued an order against Amazon targeting 400,000 products it found dangerously below safety standards. Among the products were faulty carbon monoxide detectors, hairdryers without electrocution protection, and children’s sleepwear that violated federal flammability standards.

The Commission needs five commissioners on their board in order to function. President Trump promptly fired three of the required FIVE commissioners, all Democrats. Under the law commissioners can only be fired for neglect of duty or malfeasance in office. When Congress created important independent agencies, the intention was to protect regulators from politically motivated firings.

The fired Democrats sued and were reinstated by a federal judge. That was until last week, when the Trump administration appealed to the Supreme Court. By a 6-3 ruling on the emergency Shadow Docket, the Supreme Court ruled that President Trump can just fire regulators he doesn’t like.

The court heard no oral arguments and gave no reasons for this decision. In a vehement dissent, Justice Elena Kagan protested writing, “by such actions this Court may facilitate the permanent transfer of authority, piece by piece, from one branch of Government to another.” All Trump’s firings in many agencies are not making us safer and violate Supreme Court precedent.