United States Consumer Product Safety Commission

The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (USCPSC or CPSC) is an independent agency of the United States federal government. Its job is to help keep everyday items safe for people to use by looking for things that could cause harm, organizing recalls of unsafe products, and creating safety rules.

The agency was started in 1972 by a law called the Consumer Product Safety Act. It reports directly to Congress and the president, and it is not part of any other government department. The CPSC has five leaders called commissioners, who are chosen by the president and approved by the Senate to serve for seven years. They make the decisions about what the agency does. The CPSC’s main office is located in Bethesda, Maryland.

History

The agency began in 1972 when it was created by the Consumer Product Safety Act. President Richard Nixon called it very important for protecting consumers.

In the mid-2000s, many products needed to be taken back because they were not safe. This led to new rules in 2008 to make products safer for children, like limiting certain materials in toys and testing products more often. A public database was created so people could report safety problems with products.

Later, the agency dealt with safety issues involving small, powerful magnets and strollers. In 2019, it recalled some baby sleepers after reports of tragedies linked to these products.

In 2025, there was news about changes in the agency's leadership, but these events involved adult matters and are not detailed here.

Activities

The CPSC looks after the safety of more than 15,000 different products we use every day, from cribs to all-terrain vehicles. Some products, like cars, guns, and medicines, are watched over by other groups, so the CPSC focuses on the rest.

The CPSC keeps us safe by stopping dangerous products, making new safety rules, and telling people about products that need to be returned or fixed. They also work with companies and safety groups to use everyone’s skills and resources.

Recalls

You may have heard about “recalls” — when a company tells people to return a product because it might be unsafe. These are usually voluntary, meaning the company decides to do it. People might get a new product or sometimes just money back. Sometimes, recalls just mean learning how to use something safely or updating software.

Rulemaking and enforcement

The CPSC creates rules for products when they find something unsafe that doesn’t already have rules. These rules can be about how products should be made or even stopping certain products from being sold. They follow careful steps to make sure their rules are fair and based on good science.

Information gathering and sharing

The CPSC finds out about unsafe products in a few ways. People can call a special number or visit SaferProducts.gov to share their concerns. The CPSC also works with hospitals to collect information about injuries linked to products.

They also share this information with other groups in the U.S. and around the world. The CPSC runs campaigns to teach people about safety, like showing why fireworks can be dangerous or how to keep kids safe around pools. They even make songs and share messages on Twitter and Bluesky to reach more people.

Budget and staff

When the agency started in 1972, it had a budget of $34.7 million and 786 staff members. By 2008, the number of employees dropped to 401 with a budget of $43 million. After the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act was passed in 2008, the agency grew again. By around 2014, it had at least 500 full-time employees and a budget of $136.4 million. The budget then decreased to $127 million in 2019, but the agency still employed slightly more than 500 people.

Leadership and Structure

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is led by five commissioners who are chosen by the U.S. president and approved by the U.S. Senate. The commissioners come from different political parties, and no more than three can be from the same party. They work together to make important decisions to keep everyday products safe for everyone.

The CPSC is currently led by acting Chairman Peter Feldman. The agency has several offices that help carry out its mission. One office looks at products that might be dangerous and works with companies to fix problems. Another office studies data to find and reduce risks in products. There is also an office that checks products coming into the United States to make sure they are safe. Other offices help with technology, share safety information with the public, and handle various support tasks to keep the agency running smoothly.