Velázquez, Pressley, and Brown Call on Trump Admin to Finalize Formaldehyde Ban in Hair Products

WASHINGTON – Today, Reps. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), and Shontel Brown (D-OH) sent a letter to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requesting answers on the continued delay in implementing a ban on formaldehyde in hair products.

The FDA issued the proposed rule in October 2023 following a March letter from Reps. Pressley and Brown calling for an investigation into the health risks posed by chemical hair straighteners. The agency set an April 2024 implementation timeline but missed its own deadline. Although the proposed rule was added to the OMB Unified Agenda last fall, the target action date of March 2025 has passed with no further progress.

“Since Fall 2024, there has been no further movement or concrete next steps regarding the implementation of the ban” wrote the lawmakers.

Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen found in hair relaxers, keratin treatments, and other chemical straighteners. Its use has been linked to cancer, respiratory illness, and adverse reproductive outcomes. The letter notes that women of color are disproportionately at risk.

“Of particular concern is the heightened health risk to Black women, who are more likely to receive or provide formaldehyde-based hair treatments, which has a disparate impact on both workers and their customers,” the lawmakers continued.

The letter follows previous outreach from Reps. Velázquez, Pressley, and Brown in August 2024, when they again urged the FDA to finalize the proposed rule.

In the letter, the lawmakers call on the FDA to finalize the proposed rule and ask for answers to the following questions:

• Given the delay, what steps have been taken since our last inquiry to advance the formaldehyde ban?
• Are there any current or upcoming changes to federal regulations that would impact the finalization of the proposed rule?
• How is the FDA prioritizing this issue relative to other regulatory efforts? Are there specific challenges delaying the finalization of the rule?
• Beyond formaldehyde, does the FDA plan to examine other hazardous chemicals commonly found in personal care products, particularly those disproportionately affecting women and communities of color? If so, what substances are under consideration?

“It is essential to continue to highlight the gravity of formaldehyde exposure, as evidenced by both epidemiological data and laboratory research,” the letter concludes. “Ensuring that regulatory actions align with the best interests of public health remains the goal and we encourage promptly finalizing a proposed rule.”

For a full copy of the letter, click here.

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