The transition to the new Trump administration is bringing with it many changes in both the staff and politically appointed positions within the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

Former Chair Alex Hoehn-Saric stepped down, with Peter Feldman becoming acting chair. For the time being, Commissioner Hoehn-Saric will continue on the commission, maintaining the Democratic majority on the agency for now, and it is unclear when or if he will resign entirely. If he does, this would create an open seat for President Donald Trump to appoint a new commissioner, thus creating a new Republican majority.

In key staffing changes, General Counsel Jennifer Rich has resigned, and Asha Allam (who has been a trial attorney in the Compliance Office’s Enforcement & Litigation Division since 2021) will serve as acting general counsel. CPSC Executive Director Austin Schlick will continue in his role for the time being in order to ensure a smooth transition. Rob Kaye has resigned from his position as director of the Compliance Office, and his former deputy director, Jen Sultan, has stepped into the acting director role.

Although it will take time to see how these changes may impact the direction, priorities and day-to-day operations of the agency, together they represent significant turnover in high-level roles that will almost certainly impact the operations of the agency at large and perhaps specifically within the Enforcement & Litigation division.

Acting Chair Feldman has previously indicated support for the current aggressive posture of the agency, including the increased focus on use of civil penalties and unilateral press releases. We do not expect an immediate pivot in the agency’s priorities or approach.

We will continue to do our best to understand these changes and the shifting CPSC landscape, and we will share additional updates as other anticipated changes come to fruition in the weeks and months ahead. If you have any questions about these updates, your company’s obligations under the CPSA and CPSIA, or other product safety issues, please do not hesitate to contact us.