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Commissioner Peter A. Feldman has been named Acting Chairman of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, effective January 22, 2025.

Mr. Feldman is not a new face to the agency as he has held various positions within the CPSC for almost a decade. He has served on the Commission since October 5, 2018, after being nominated by President Donald J. Trump and confirmed by the United States Senate in an 80-19 vote to complete former Commissioner Joe Mohorovic’s term, which expired in October 2019. He was then re-nominated and confirmed by a slim 51-48 vote to a subsequent seven-year term, which ends in October 2026. This reappointment gave Republicans their first majority control of the Commission in nearly twelve years. During his tenure at CPSC, Mr. Feldman has focused on the surge of Chinese consumer goods violating federal laws and worked to enhance the agency’s ability to meet the challenges of the modern marketplace.

On January 13, 2025, Mr. Feldman was chosen by his fellow Commissioners to serve as Vice Chairman, and he assumed the role of Acting Chairman following Alex Hoehn-Saric’s resignation as Chair on January 21.

Background:

Prior to joining the CPSC, Mr. Feldman served as Senior Counsel to the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. In this capacity, he was a key advisor on consumer protection, product safety, data security, and privacy issues to the Committee’s then-chairman, Senator John Thune. In the private sector, Mr. Feldman worked for the International Code Council, a nonprofit organization dedicated to publishing safety standards and building codes, that aimed at ensuring consumer protection through resilient structures.

Mr. Fieldman received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Colgate University and his Juris Doctor from the American University Washington College of Law. He is a member of the Maryland Bar.

Former CPSC Chair Steps Down:

Alexander Hoehn-Saric was nominated to the Commission by President Joseph R. Biden and served as Chair from October 2021 until he stepped down on January 21, 2025. He will serve as Commissioner until his term expires in October 2027.

Prior to leading the CPSC, Mr. Hoehn-Saric was Chief Counsel for Communications and Consumer Protection with the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy & Commerce. As Chief Counsel, he served as the chief legal advisor to Chairman Pallone on the Committee on consumer product safety, auto safety, consumer protection, privacy, broadband, and other communications issues. He played a pivotal role in drafting legislation to enhance the CPSC’s authority and resources.

During his tenure, CPSC focused heavily on enforcement efforts, including the following:

  • Conducting 981 recalls and issuing more than 114 product safety warnings to consumers;
  • Issuing 181,940 take-down requests to online marketplaces for recalled, banned, or violative products;
  • Intercepting 32 million violative items at U.S. ports;
  • Expanding the use of unilateral press releases; and
  • Imposing over $125 million in civil penalties for violations of product safety laws.

Mr. Hoehn-Saric holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Chicago and a Juris Doctor degree from UCLA Law School.

The Impact of CPSC’s New Acting Chairman:

Peter Feldman’s new role as Acting Chair signals a continued focus on enforcement efforts and adapting to evolving market challenges. We anticipate Mr. Feldman will focus on CPSC’s aggressive stance on e-commerce oversight, addressing product hazards that may be overlooked in online marketplaces. Additionally, we expect Mr. Feldman to maintain the agency’s current approach of using civil penalties and unilateral press releases to enforce compliance, signaling a continued commitment to robust consumer protection efforts. These developments will likely shape CPSC’s direction in the years ahead.

Mr. Feldman also identified three key challenges for CPSC this year: (1) Modernizing CPSC’s Data Collection and Analysis Capabilities; (2) Addressing E-Commerce; and (3) Stakeholder Engagement.

Modernizing CPSC’s Data Collection and Analysis Capabilities

With advances in data analytics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence, Mr. Feldman believes CPSC must rethink how it collects, analyzes, and acts on consumer safety data to address potential gaps.

Addressing E-Commerce

While the rapid growth of e-commerce presents new challenges, Mr. Feldman advocates for re-assessing CPSC’s market surveillance and enforcement strategies to identify hazards that could be overlooked through traditional methods. He emphasizes the need to understand the role of online platforms and how to manage small shipments that may pose risks.

Stakeholder Engagement

Mr. Feldman stresses the importance of expanding outreach to consumers, industry leaders, and other stakeholders. He believes an increased education about CPSC’s laws, regulations, and expectations is crucial for enhancing safety and compliance.