Two House Democrats are grilling the nation’s consumer watchdog over its recent decision to withdraw a proposal to create safety standards for certain lithium-ion batteries.
Consumer Product Safety Commission acting Chair Peter Feldman and Commissioner Douglas Dziak, both Republicans, voted 2-0 on May 13 to repeal a notice of proposed rulemaking to establish standards for batteries used in scooters, e-bikes and other micromobility devices.
The CPSC had voted 3-2 to advance the proposal just two weeks prior, with Democrats on the commission calling the batteries “ticking time bombs.” Then, after President Donald Trump fired all three Democratic commissioners, Feldman and Dziak changed course.
Battery fires have killed dozens of people in recent years and posed problems for first responders, who have struggled to get the blazes under control. The batteries’ ability to combust has drawn scrutiny from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.
