The Clown Show: Trump fires all 3 Democrats on the Consumer Product Safety Commission

The Democratic members of an independent agency dedicated to protecting Americans from dangerous products and issuing recalls and safety warnings were fired by President Trump via an overnight email. These firings come as consumer protection groups and lawmakers warn that Trump may be attempting to dismantle the entire Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

The White House didn't immediately respond to NPR's request for comment, but when asked about changes at the CPSC during her press briefing Friday, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the president "has the right to fire people within the executive branch." Richard Trumka Jr., one of the three Democratic commissioners sacked by Trump, said in a statement posted on social media: "I'll see him in court."

CPSC Acting Chairman Peter Feldman wrote that "Both the Constitution and the Consumer Product Safety Act grant the President authority to remove members of CPSC. President Trump has exercised this authority, and he has done so lawfully," Feldman wrote. "CPSC remains committed to our important safety mission: protecting American consumers from the unreasonable risk of injury associated with consumer products. The Commission will continue to carry out its duties with diligence and integrity."

CPSC, an agency formed in 1972, works to protect Americans from dangerous items that pose a safety hazard or even risk death, like adult portable bed rails and unsafe children's toys. It also seizes hazardous products at the nation's ports. The agency is led by five commissioners, one who serves as chairman, that serve for multi-year terms. All of the Democrats fired by Trump still had from several months to years left on their term.

The panel's website still lists Acting Chairman Feldman and Republican Commissioner Douglas Dziak, whose term ended in October 2024. The Democrats are now categorized under "past commissioners."

Trumka says since Trump took office, the CPSC has been pressured to fire many of its staff — which he had refused to do. And for that, DOGE came knocking on the agency's door on Thursday afternoon, he said. "By 3:45 pm, CPSC's Acting Chair, Peter Feldman sent an email to Commissioners seeking approval to bring aboard two DOGE detailees to the agency: Justin Fox and Nate Cavanaugh. He set a 6:00 pm deadline to respond," Trumka wrote.

They were refused. Trumka said, "If these people are allowed in to govern our agency, they will gut it and the result will turn back the clock on product safety. Two of my colleagues said no as well, forming a majority to block the move. Rather than respect the democratic process, soon after, I received the email purporting to fire me."

The CPSC is the latest independent federal agency facing pressure from the Trump administration, and its DOGE counterparts, to slash staff and acquiesce to White House control. In February, Trump signed an executive order which intended to give him more power over other independent agencies like the Securities and Exchange Commission, which oversees markets, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., which insures bank deposits. He wants all of those agencies to put regulatory work through his administration.

In addition to the thousands of federal workers ousted by DOGE, Trump fired high-ranking officials at independent agencies and any other offices that he perceives as opposing his administration's agenda. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the National Labor Relations Board and, most recently, the Library of Congress were hit by high-level firings.

Many of those firings are being challenged in court over the claim those firings were illegal. Trumka and Hoehn-Saric say their firings are illegal. Trumka is promising his own legal action: "I will continue protecting the American people from harm through that time. The President would like to end this nation's long history of independent agencies, so he's chosen to ignore the law and pretend independence doesn't exist. I'll see him in court," Trumka wrote. "CPSC's lifesaving work is far too important to take this lying down.