The Trump Administration just withdrew a federally mandated rule that would have protected millions of Americans from asbestos contamination in their daily makeup and body powder.

Story Overview

• FDA withdrew proposed rule requiring standardized asbestos testing in talc-based cosmetics
• Action directly contradicts Congressional mandate from 2022 Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act
• Millions of consumers, particularly women and children, remain vulnerable to preventable asbestos exposure
• Asbestos-related diseases can develop decades after initial exposure with no safe exposure level

Congressional Mandate Ignored by Executive Action

Congress explicitly required the FDA to establish these testing standards through the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act of 2022. The law responded to growing evidence that existing detection methods failed to identify dangerous asbestos contamination in talc products. Despite this clear legislative directive, the Trump Administration formally withdrew the proposed rule on November 28, 2025, as documented in the Federal Register.

Linda Reinstein, mesothelioma widow and cofounder of the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization, called the withdrawal “a profound setback for public health and consumer safety” that “ignores a clear Congressional directive.” Her organization emphasized that without standardized testing, cosmetic companies may continue using incomplete detection techniques that miss hazardous fibers.

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The Science Behind the Danger

Talc and asbestos form in similar geological conditions, creating contamination risks during mining and manufacturing. The proximity of these minerals means talc deposits can naturally contain asbestos fibers, which then enter cosmetic products used daily by millions of Americans. Current industry testing protocols lack the consistency and scientific rigor needed to detect all forms of asbestos contamination.

Asbestos exposure causes mesothelioma, ovarian cancer, lung cancer, and other fatal diseases that typically develop 20 to 50 years after initial contact. No safe exposure level exists for this known carcinogen. The proposed FDA rule would have established uniform, scientifically validated methods to identify contamination before products reached consumers.

Regulatory Rollback Leaves Consumers Unprotected

The withdrawal represents a stark shift toward deregulation in consumer safety oversight. Without federal standards, cosmetic manufacturers will continue operating under inconsistent testing frameworks that may fail to detect all asbestos types. This regulatory gap means consumers cannot rely on government oversight to ensure their daily personal care products are free from cancer-causing contamination.

F.D.A. Withdraws Rule to Require Testing Cosmetics Made With Talc for Asbestos – The New York Times https://t.co/u0jYz3viER

— Frances (@fhicks106) November 26, 2025

The decision prioritizes industry flexibility over public health protections, despite Congressional intent to strengthen cosmetic safety standards. The long-term health consequences may not emerge for decades, making this a particularly insidious form of regulatory negligence that sacrifices future lives for present convenience.

Sources:

Statement: Reinstein on Asbestos-Talc Rollback – Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization
Testing Methods for Detecting and Identifying Asbestos in Talc-Containing Cosmetic Products – Federal Register