People Power United Joins Movement Letter opposing the confirmation of Brien Lorenze and Karen Sessions to serve as commissioners of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)

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Friends, each week, on behalf of our membership, we join movement efforts and sign on to letters to Congress and other key decision-makers on a wide range of issues that advance freedom over fascism, progress, and power to the people. Here is a copy of our sign-on to a letter opposing the confirmation of Brien Lorenze and Karen Sessions to serve as commissioners of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Shout out to the National Consumer League for leading this effort.

July 21,2026

Dear Chair Cruz and Ranking Member Cantwell,

We write to urge you to protect the independence and nonpartisanship of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the nation’s chief household product safety regulator. Product safety hazards have no partisan leanings, and neither should the Commission tasked with addressing them. Accordingly, we respectfully request that members of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation vote against reporting favorably the nominations of Brien Lorenze and Karen Sessions to serve as CPSC commissioners.

In 1972, Congress established the CPSC as an independent federal agency led by five bipartisan commissioners exclusively charged with overseeing the safety of household consumer products. Since then, members of Congress from both parties have supported the role of an independent, nonpartisan CPSC. By law, CPSC commissioners must be mission-driven and subject matter experts with a “background and expertise in areas related to consumer products and protection of the public from risks to safety.”¹ No more than three commissioners may be affiliated with the same political party.² Further, the law prohibits commissioners from owning stock or bonds of substantial value in a company that sells or manufactures consumer products, or from being in “any other manner pecuniarily interested in such a person.”³

Historically, the agency’s independence has buffered the commissioners from political pressure from the White House and large donors. This has ensured that the agency has acted with transparency and a diversity of views, which has benefited the American people. Further, the presence of minority commissioners provided a layer of oversight and accountability on CPSC actions.

With this independent and nonpartisan structure, the CPSC has had a lifesaving effect. CPSC standards and enforcement activities have helped spur a 43 percent decline in residential fires, a 47 percent decrease in fire deaths, and a 41 percent reduction in fire injuries from 1980 to 2018.⁴ Child poisonings have decreased by 80 percent between 1972 and 2020.⁵ Bicycle injuries dropped by 35 percent between 1973 and 2020.⁶ Deaths from refrigerator door entrapments and garage door incidents have been virtually eliminated.⁷ Crib deaths have plummeted by 80 percent from 1973 to 2018.⁸ Pool and pool equipment injury rates have decreased by 55 percent from 1975 to 2019.⁹

In May 2025, the Trump administration removed the three Democratic, Senate-confirmed CPSC commissioners. The removals were not for cause. The emails received by Commissioners Richard Trumka Jr. and Mary T. Boyle merely state that “[o]n behalf of President Donald J. Trump, I am writing to inform you that your position on the Consumer Product Safety Commission is terminated effective immediately.” No neglect of duty was cited. No malfeasance was alleged.

President Trump has since nominated two individuals of his own political party, threatening to further undermine the independence and nonpartisanship of the CPSC. Diverse perspectives and transparency improve safety. Silencing the voices of subject matter experts with whom the President politically disagrees or who may not serve his financial interests can have a chilling effect on the CPSC’s functions. The President’s assertion of control over CPSC commissioners has eliminated the transparency provided by minority commissioners and the independence of those who remain.

This is particularly troublesome given the conflict of interest created by the President’s financial stake and those of his family and supporters in consumer products the CPSC is entrusted to regulate. President Trump financially benefits from the distribution of a vast array of consumer products, including Trump Watches, Trump Sneakers, and “45” Guitars.¹⁰ The President also has substantial financial interests in major manufacturers, retailers, and online marketplaces, including Whirlpool Corp., Newell Rubbermaid, Macy’s Retail Holdings, and Amazon.com Inc.¹¹ The Trump Organization, helmed by Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, sells a wide variety of consumer products, including toys and children’s products; apparel, footwear, and accessories; sporting goods; pet products; and household goods such as drinkware, kitchenware, linens, candles, and home décor.¹² First Lady Melania Trump, through MelaniaTrump.com, is associated with the sales of jewelry and Christmas ornaments.¹³ Lara Trump and Kai Trump sell apparel through their respective online stores.¹⁴ Secretary of Education Linda McMahon maintains a significant financial stake in TKO Group Holdings, which has lucrative licensing deals for World Wrestling Entertainment toys, apparel, and accessories.¹⁵ Mike Lindell, a prominent supporter of the President, is the founder of MyPillow, which sells bedding and apparel.¹⁶ Former special Government employee Elon Musk profits from sales of Tesla’s Powerwall systems and the Tesla Cyberquad for children.¹⁷ Political ally and Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) CEO Dana White profits from UFC’s sale of apparel, combat-sport equipment, and collectibles.¹⁸

These extensive financial and familial interests heighten concerns that the President could use his authority to influence CPSC enforcement decisions in ways that protect his and his associates’ interests, as the administration has done in matters before other federal agencies. In response to a lawsuit filed by President Trump against the Internal Revenue Service, the Department of Justice (DOJ) entered into a settlement agreement in May that created a $1.8 billion fund to compensate alleged victims of “government weaponization” and provided the President, his family, and their businesses with sweeping and unprecedented immunity from tax investigations.¹⁹ The agreement was later voided by a federal judge.²⁰ In 2025, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) closed an investigation into border czar Tom Homan, who allegedly accepted a $50,000 bag of cash from an undercover FBI agent in exchange for promised immigration-related government contracts.²¹ In February 2025, the DOJ ordered federal prosecutors to dismiss the corruption prosecution of New York City Mayor Eric Adams, claiming the prosecution interfered with Adams’s ability to assist the administration’s immigration-enforcement efforts.²² In 2025, the Securities and Exchange Commission paused a fraud and market manipulation lawsuit against Justin Sun, a Chinese cryptocurrency billionaire who has invested heavily in President Trump’s cryptocurrency projects.²³

We are concerned that without balanced representation at the CPSC, this small agency with a big mission will be unable to independently carry out its congressionally mandated duties and provide the public with the transparency it deserves. Congress deliberately established an independent, nonpartisan agency with exclusive authority over the safety of consumer products. Such independence ensures that product safety comes before partisanship and that household hazards are treated like the safety imperative they so clearly are. Defective and violative consumer products put Americans, especially vulnerable populations such as infants, children and the elderly, at risk of death and injury. Once identified, those products must be recalled and removed from consumers’ homes quickly, regardless of who manufactures or sells such products. The CPSC is no place for political favoritism. We therefore urge you to oppose reporting favorably the nominations of Brien Lorenze and Karen Sessions to serve as CPSC commissioners.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter. If you would like any additional information about our request, please contact Daniel Greene of the National Consumers League at danielg@nclnet.org.

Sincerely,

National Consumers League Consumer Federation of America

Access Ready Inc.

Affordable Homeownership Foundation Inc.

Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota

Center for Auto Safety

Center for Pet Safety

Community Economic Empowerment Network

Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety

Cribs for Kids

Derrick Stone Safe Sleep

Detroit Greenways Coalition

Earth Action, Inc.

Economic Action Maryland Fund

Housing and Economic Rights Advocates

Just Strategy

Keeping Babies Safe

Kids and Car Safety

Missourians for Responsible Transportation

National Association of Consumer Advocates

National Bicycle Dealers Association People Power United

Safety Research & Strategies StopDistractions.org

The Collaborative

The Wisconsin Bike Fed

Together We Thrive, Inc.

Trailnet

Truck Safety Coalition

Dr. Charles Jennissen, Product Safety Advocate

References

¹ 15 U.S. Code § 2053(a).

²Id.

³ 15 U.S. Code § 2053(c).

⁴ Consumer Product Safety Commission. “CPSC Celebrates 50 Years of Making Consumer Safety Our Mission.” 15 March 2022, www.cpsc.gov/Newsroom/News-Releases/2022/CPSC-Celebrates-50-Years-of-Making Consumer-Safety-our-Mission.

⁵Id.

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¹⁰ President Donald J. Trump, “OGE Form 278e.” 29 June 2026. https://www.citizensforethics.org/wp - content/uploads/2026/06/Donald-J-Trump-2026-278ANNUAL.pdf.

¹¹ Id.

¹² The Trump Organization. “Leadership.” https://www.trump.com/leadership. Accessed 13 July 2026.; Trump Store, “Trump Store.” https://www.trumpstore.com/. Accessed 13 July 2026.

¹³ Melania Trump ”Melania Trump.” https://www.melaniatrump.com/. Accessed 13 July 2026. ¹⁴ Lara Trump, “Shop Lara Trump.” https://shop.laratrump.com/. Accessed 13 July 2026.; Kai Trump “Kai Trump Store.” https://kaitrump.shop/. Accessed 13 July 2026.

¹⁵ The Honorable Linda McMahon, “OGE Form 278e.” https://projects.propublica.org/trump -team-financial disclosures/appointees/mcmahon-linda/. Accessed 13 July 2026.

¹⁶ My Pillow. “My Pillow.”

https://www.mypillow.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoqSyEdymIdsohaIWyDtNNrLQisTrSBxI0QMfh6GElZbs_7biByx. Accessed 13 July 2026.

¹⁷ Tesla. “Powerwall.” https://www.tesla.com/powerwall. Accessed 13 July 2026.; Tesla, “Cyberquad for Kids.” https://shop.tesla.com/product/cyberquad-for-kids. Accessed 13 July 2026.

¹⁸ UFC Store. “UFC Store.” https://www.ufcstore.com/en/?_s=bm-UFCStore-UFC.com-Shop UFC_Navigation-2025. Accessed 13 July 2026.

¹⁹ The New York Times. “Trump Administration Live Updates: Judge Says President’s Lawsuit With I.R.S. Was Self-Dealing.” 13 July 2026. https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/07/13/us/trump -news. ²⁰ Id.

²¹ Reuters. “Trump Aide Homan Accepted $50,000 in Bribery Sting Operation, Sources Say.” 22 September 2025. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-aide-homan-accepted-50000-bribery-sting-operation-sources-say 2025-09-21.

²² Reuters, “Judge Dismisses New York Mayor’s Corruption Case, Slams Trump Administration “Bargain”.” 2 April 2025. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/nyc-mayor-eric-adams-corruption-case-dismissed-cannot-be-brought again-2025-04-02.

²³ The Washington Post. “Who is Justin Sun, the Chinese billionaire at Trump’s crypto dinner?” 23 May 2025. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/05/23/trump-crypto-dinner-justin-sun.

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