Consumer Safety Agency Shrinks, Slows, Closes Up

Consumer Reports says the Consumer Product Safety Commission has become smaller, slower, and less open to the public since early 2025.

Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Appliances

Consumer Safety Agency Shrinks, Slows, Closes Up

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Consumer Reports published an investigation finding the Consumer Product Safety Commission has become smaller, slower, and less open to the public. The group also filed a consumer petition asking the agency to finalize outstanding safety rules and reinstate the consumer ombudsman role.

Why it matters

The CPSC oversees the safety of more than 15,000 categories of products sold in the United States, including household appliances. Safety rules meant to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning and table saw injuries have stalled or been withdrawn, leaving consumers with fewer protections.

The CPSC reported a record 542 recalls and product safety warnings in 2025, according to the agency's own figures. Two new commissioners took office over the summer, restoring the minimum of three needed for a quorum, but how quickly that translates into finalized rules remains unclear.

The players

Consumer Product Safety Commission

The federal agency responsible for protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury from consumer products, which has faced staffing and operational cuts since early 2025.

Consumer Reports

A nonprofit consumer advocacy organization known for independent product testing and research, which conducted the investigation and filed the consumer petition.

The details

Consumer Reports based its findings on interviews with numerous former agency staffers and outside experts. Public hearings that once invited input from safety advocates and parents have largely stopped, and the position of consumer ombudsman was eliminated.

Early 2025: The CPSC began becoming smaller, slower, and less open to the public.
Mid-2025: Three commissioners were fired without cause, leaving the agency without a quorum.
Summer 2026: Two new commissioners took office, restoring the minimum needed for a quorum.
November 5, 2026: Consumer Reports released its investigation and filed its consumer petition.

Regulatory Context

The CPSC was created under the Consumer Product Safety Act to protect the public from unreasonable product risks, and its current shrinkage departs from that mandate. Its record 542 recalls and warnings in 2025 show enforcement activity continuing even as rulemaking has stalled.

Consumers buying appliances may face fewer finalized safety rules on carbon monoxide risks and power tools. The reduced public access to agency hearings also means fewer channels for families to raise hazards affecting their homes.

The takeaway

Check product recalls directly before buying household appliances, since federal safety rulemaking has slowed. Keeping carbon monoxide detectors installed near fuel-burning appliances remains a practical safeguard while protections are pending.