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Added Tricia Nadolny and Brett Murphy as co-authors per bylines in cited sources, in line with WP:VERIFY and WP:RS.
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==Agency shutdown controversy== |
==Agency shutdown controversy== |
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During the COVID-19 pandemic, then-acting chairman Adler faced criticism for secretly suspending key operations of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) for several months. According to investigations by ''USA Today'' in 2020 and 2021, the agency halted routine screening of imported consumer products at U.S. ports, including high-risk items such as children's toys and other goods that could contain hazardous materials like lead or phthalates.<ref name="usatoday2021">{{cite news |last=Estes |first=Andrea |title=Consumer product safety risk rose after COVID port screening lapse |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/investigations/2021/07/14/consumer-product-safety-risk-after-covid-port-screening-lapse/7938830002/ |work=USA Today |date=July 14, 2021 |access-date=July 4, 2025}}</ref><ref name="usatoday2020">{{cite news |last=Estes |first=Andrea |title=Kids' toys lacked federal safety screenings ahead of holiday shopping |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/investigations/2020/12/11/kids-toys-lacked-federal-safety-screenings-ahead-holiday-shopping/3808926001/ |work=USA Today |date=December 11, 2020 |access-date=July 4, 2025}}</ref> The halt in inspections coincided with the 2020 holiday shopping season and raised concerns that potentially unsafe products were entering the U.S. market without oversight.<ref name="usatoday2020" /> |
During the COVID-19 pandemic, then-acting chairman Adler faced criticism for secretly suspending key operations of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) for several months. According to investigations by USA Today in 2020 and 2021, the agency halted routine screening of imported consumer products at U.S. ports, including high-risk items such as children's toys and other goods that could contain hazardous materials like lead or phthalates.<ref name="usatoday2021">{{cite news |last1=Stein |first1=Letitia |last2=Nadolny |first2=Tricia |title=Consumer product safety risk rose after COVID port screening lapse |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/investigations/2021/07/14/consumer-product-safety-risk-after-covid-port-screening-lapse/7938830002/ |work=USA Today |date=July 14, 2021 |access-date=July 4, 2025}}</ref><ref name="usatoday2020">{{cite news |last1=Stein |first1=Letitia |last2=Murphy |first2=Brett |title=Kids' toys lacked federal safety screenings ahead of holiday shopping |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/investigations/2020/12/11/kids-toys-lacked-federal-safety-screenings-ahead-holiday-shopping/3808926001/ |work=USA Today |date=December 11, 2020 |access-date=July 4, 2025}}</ref> The halt in inspections coincided with the 2020 holiday shopping season and raised concerns that potentially unsafe products were entering the U.S. market without oversight.<ref name="usatoday2020" /> |
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The lack of screening drew bipartisan condemnation from members of Congress, who expressed concern over risks to consumer safety, particularly for children. Senator [[Richard Blumenthal]] stated, “The total lack of inspections is absolutely inexcusable, especially because of the concealment.”<ref name="usatoday2020" /> In defense of the agency’s actions, Adler stated that "Lead in toys is not the biggest lead hazard to kids."<ref name="usatoday2020" /> |
The lack of screening drew bipartisan condemnation from members of Congress, who expressed concern over risks to consumer safety, particularly for children. Senator [[Richard Blumenthal]] stated, “The total lack of inspections is absolutely inexcusable, especially because of the concealment.”<ref name="usatoday2020" /> In defense of the agency’s actions, Adler stated that "Lead in toys is not the biggest lead hazard to kids."<ref name="usatoday2020" /> |
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