FIRST ON FOX: Roughly 2,300 Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) employees have opted to take deferred resignation offers since January, Fox News Digital learned.
“To continue serving the American people at the highest standard, we are taking inventory of all programs and personnel while maintaining a strong workforce that is dedicated to supporting our most vulnerable and promoting pathways to self-sufficiency,” Secretary Scott Turner told Fox News Digital Wednesday.
“The Deferred Resignation Program carries out President Trump’s commitment to efficiency in the federal government by providing a pathway for employees to wish to seek new opportunities while also affording the agency an opportunity to streamline our operations.”
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) offered deferred resignations to federal employees earlier in 2025, which closed in February. The deferred resignation initiative offered staffers eight months of pay and benefits if they parted ways with their federal government jobs.
HUD announced the launch of a second resignation offer March 31 to employees “who wish they had taken” OPM’s offer.
Roughly 2,300 HUD employees have taken the deferred resignation offers, with slight fluctuations possible as they iron out final agreements with staffers, Fox Digital learned. Ahead of the Trump administration, HUD employed nearly 10,000 individuals.
HUD OFFICES BECAME AS VACANT AS A ‘SPIRIT HALLOWEEN’ STORE UNDER BIDEN: ADMIN SOURCES
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development nominee Scott Turner is sworn in during his Senate confirmation hearing, Jan. 16, 2025. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
“On week 1, President Trump went straight to work on reforming the federal workforce. One option offered to federal employees was a ‘fork in the road’ to separate from the federal workforce,” HUD posted to its official X account March 31.
HUD CHIEF PUTS ILLEGAL ALIENS LIVING IN GOVERNMENT-FUNDED HOUSING ON NOTICE: AMERICANS ARE ‘OUR ONLY PRIORITY’
“The option to take the fork in the road closed on February 12, 2025. Since then, we have heard from staff who wish they had taken it. Today, we’re launching a second Deferred Resignation Program or ‘fork in the road’ in coordination with OPM that opens today and closes on Friday, April 11, 2025.
Under the Biden administration, HUD reportedly had become desolate as staffers worked from home and rarely visited its massive Washington headquarters. Fox News Digital reported in February that HUD’s headquarters became as empty as an off-season “Spirit Halloween” store under the Biden administration, which had left offices relatively untouched since the first Trump administration.
LIBERAL NORTH CAROLINA CITY’S DEI PLAN FOR HURRICANE RELIEF SHUT DOWN BY HUD SECRETARY
“For four years, the American people witnessed their government buildings transform overnight into massive, taxpayer-funded ‘Spirit Halloween’ stores,” a senior Trump administration official told Fox News Digital at the time.
President Donald Trump signed a memo on his first day back in the Oval Office ordering agency heads to terminate remote work arrangements that had been ongoing since the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.
Turner told Fox Digital in February that upon his confirmation, “the four year vacation” for staffers was “over.”
Under the Biden administration, HUD reportedly had become desolate as staffers worked from home and reportedly rarely visited its massive Washington headquarters.(Carol M. Highsmith/Buyenlarge/Getty Images)
“This is a huge disservice to the American people and a massive waste of hard-earned taxpayer dollars,” Turner told Fox Digital in February. “Let me be clear – the four-year vacation is over.”
“I’ve been on many teams in my career, and I know from experience that in-person teamwork ensures accountability and fosters an environment of collaboration, creativity and communication,” he said. “At HUD, we’re getting back to work for the American people.”
U.S. Border Patrol Chief Mike Banks told Fox News Wednesday that morale at his agency is “going through the roof” under the Trump administration.
Speaking to “America’s Newsroom,” Banks said, “We’ve had the handcuffs taken off” and “we’re allowed to actually do our job, which is go out and enforce the law.
“Under this administration, they have literally taken the handcuffs off and allowed us to enforce law instead of policies that were created to contradict the law and so our morale has continued to rise,” he continued.
Banks’ remarks come following a new report by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) that revealed there were fewer apprehensions at the southern border in the entire month of March than there were in the first two days of the month in 2024 under the Biden administration.
ARMY TAKES CONTROL OF FEDERAL LAND ALONG NEW MEXICO BORDER TO INCREASE SECURITY, PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT
U.S. Border Patrol processes a group of migrants near a highway in February 2024 outside Eagle Pass, Texas. Banks told Fox News that apprehensions there have fallen sharply.(Sergio Flores/AFP via Getty Images)
Since taking office in January, President Donald Trump has signed orders ending birthright citizenship, suspended refugee admissions, ended the use of an app at the southern border to admit migrants via humanitarian parole, and resumed border wall construction.
“Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, Border Patrol agents are now back to doing the jobs they signed up for: securing the border, rather than serving as travel agents for illegal aliens,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said earlier this month. “The Los Angeles Times captured the Trump effect on the border with a recent article. Their headline read ‘California, Mexico border, once overwhelmed, is now nearly empty with so few migrants coming into the U.S.’ They wrote, ‘shelters that once served migrants have completely closed.’”
Banks also told Fox News on Wednesday that recruiting is “looking great” and the Border Patrol is “seeing some of our highest numbers ever.”
CBP OFFICERS SEIZE OVER $14 MILLION OF ALLEGED METHAMPHETAMINE AT SOUTHERN BORDER
A Border Patrol agent works to seal an illegal cross-border tunnel between El Paso, Texas, and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, on March 11.(Herika Martinez/AFP via Getty Images)
“Really excited about that because as you know, during the previous four years under the Biden administration, we saw a mass exodus from the Border Patrol and we saw some of our lowest recruiting numbers. We’re seeing the opposite,” he added. “We’re seeing agents pull retirement paperwork in order to continue staying in and serve, and we’re seeing our recruiting numbers go through the roof.”
Banks said at one point, the area of Eagle Pass, Texas, “was seeing an average of three to four thousand [apprehensions] a day.
A large group of migrants, some carrying children, cross the Rio Grande and arrive in Eagle Pass, Texas, on Sept. 27, 2023.(Benjamin Lowy for Fox News Digital )
“Right now, Eagle Pass, Texas is seeing an average of 18 apprehensions a day and very few gotaways, little to none. Some days zero gotaways,” he said.
Fox News Digital’s Peter Pinedo and Greg Wehner contributed to this report.
Authorities in Newfoundland and Labrador say highly potent cocaine is circulating in the province, and killing more people than fentanyl.
Figures supplied today by the province’s chief medical examiner’s office show 43 people died of cocaine toxicity last year compared with 20 from fentanyl and eight from a combination of the drugs.
RCMP Insp. David Emberley says cocaine recently seized in the province was found to be more than 90 per cent pure — a potency he described as “alarming and highly toxic.”
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Emberley says cocaine that pure is typically sold by the kilogram and diluted with other substances before it is consumed.
He says that until two or three years ago, purity rates for street-level cocaine seized in the province were typically between 15 and 20 per cent.
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Dr. Nash Denic, the province’s chief medical examiner, says three teenagers have died from drug toxicity so far this year in confirmed or suspected cases of Xanax or Dilaudid contaminated with protonitazene, a synthetic opioid.
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 16, 2025.
President Trump plans to overhaul the Endangered Species Act to make it easier to build in the U.S. where endangered species live, a White House official confirmed Wednesday.
The president has voiced frustration with the 1973 law and similar environmental protections, saying environmentalists are impeding growth. Real Clear Politics first reported Mr. Trump’s plans to overhaul the law.
A White House source was granted anonymity as the announcement is not official.
It’s not yet exactly clear how Mr. Trump would alter the use of the law, since only Congress can change or repeal it, but it would likely come through the federal rule-making process. The law was established to protect species of wildlife, fish and plants that have been depleted enough to be in danger of extinction.
Last week, the president directed agencies regulating energy and the environment to sunset a number of environmental protections, among other steps to curb environmental protections to spur construction and economic growth.
One step the administration is considering is to repeal the definition of ‘harm,’ which would remove nearly all habitat protections for endangered species across the country. Currently, if any business or activity harms a protected species, it’s a violation of the law, as established by the ESA. The law defines “harm” as including “any activity that can modify a species’ habitat.” Loss of habitat is the single greatest threat to most species, since many aren’t “taken” or killed to the point of extinction.. By eliminating this legal definition of “harm,” it would clear the way for many forms of economic development, including logging, oil and gas drilling, or critical mineral mining that could eradicate a species, environmentalists say.
“We’ll go to court to fight as many of these rollbacks as possible,” said Brett Hartle, director of government affairs for the Center for Biological Diversity. “The federal government is large and they’re throwing everything at the wall hoping to overwhelm us, but we’ll do our damnedest to make sure nothing becomes permanent.”
The Endangered Species Act was established in 1973 to protect “various species of fish, wildlife, and plants in the United States that had been rendered extinct as a consequence of economic growth and development untampered by adequate concern and conservation.” By designating species with a protected status, this ensures that the ecosystems where the species live will be conserved and steps are taken to help support the species to avoid extinction. This, by extension, means that Congress and federal agencies will work with state and local governments to address water resources that impact species, as well as habitat.
Critics of the Endangered Species Act claim the law goes far beyond the initial intent and is overly burdensome. Republican Rep. Bruce Westerman of Arkansas, chairman of the House Committee on Natural Resources, has frequently suggested changes to the ESA and last month proposed the Endangered Species Amendment Act of 2025. He said in a statement, “The Endangered Species Act has consistently failed to achieve its intended goals and has been warped by decades of radical environmental litigation into a weapon instead of a tool.”
Much of what the Trump administration is proposing, by sunsetting regulations and overhauling the ESA, aligns with Westerman’s bill.”Environmental is the biggest tool for stopping growth,” Mr. Trump said in an interview with podcaster Joe Rogan last year.
Environmentalists, however, are concerned about weakening the law.
“This is a full-out assault on America’s heritage,” said Andrew Wetzler, the senior vice president of nature at the Natural Resources Defense Council. “If Trump is successful, it will turn the ESA into a shell of itself, and this would be open season for our most important wildlife.”
In the 50 years since the law was enacted, the ESA has been credited with saving 99% of the listed species. Notable species saved include the bald eagle, American alligators, whooping cranes and peregrine falcons.
CBS News reported in 2023 that since the passage of the law, more than 1,7000 plants, mammals, fish, insects and other species in the U.S. have been listed as threatened or endangered. But federal data shows that of the roughly $1.2 billion a year spent on endangered and threatened species, about half goes toward recovery of just two types of fish: salmon and steelhead trout along the West Coast.
Tracy J. Wholf
contributed to this report.
Kathryn Watson
Kathryn Watson is a politics reporter for CBS News Digital, based in Washington, D.C.
The family of a missing New York banker who vanished while on vacation in Spain over a month ago confirmed the remains that washed ashore belong to the 37-year-old.
“It is with profound sadness that I speak of the passing of my youngest son Grant,” Michael Barr, Grant Barr’s father, wrote in a post on his Facebook page.
Grant Barr was staying with friends and relatives in Estepona on the Costa del Sol when he disappeared on Jan. 28, according to the Spanish Eye.
His pants and passport were also found near a beach at a resort, shortly after he was reported missing, which prompted a massive search, the outlet reported.
AMERICAN FOUND DEAD ON BAHAMAS VACATION LOOKED ‘BEATEN,’ MOM SAYS: ‘THERE IS FOUL PLAY’
Grant Barr’s family confirmed that the missing Wall Street banker washed up dead on a beach in Spain.(Michael Barr Facebook)
The outlet reported that Barr’s body washed up on a beach on March 3, but his family was not notified until April 4, when the remains were identified, after they had spent weeks searching for him.
Michael Barr added that the remains on the beach were confirmed as his son’s through DNA.
“As a father, my world will never be the same; the same may be true for all who knew and loved him. I ask God for the strength to carry on, with courage and love in my heart. And I give thanks for the prayers and kind thoughts from all who knew and loved him,” Michael Barr continued.
MISSING UTAH WOMAN’S PHONE PROVIDES OMINOUS UPDATE AFTER DISAPPEARANCE IN REMOTE CANYONLANDS
Grant Barr, a 37-year-old banker from New York, was found dead on a beach in Estepona, Spain, after disappearing during a vacation.(Michael Barr/Facebook)
Barr had traveled to Spain for a sailing getaway after going through a difficult breakup, according to his dad, adding that his son was in an “emotional state” and might have been struggling with reality.
“He loved sailing. He was a certified skydiver, and had been working on his pilot’s license. He had a gigantic thirst for life,” Barr’s father described, sharing an image of his son on Facebook.
Authorities initially ruled his cause of death as drowning, though the exact circumstances remain unclear.
James Barr, Grant’s brother, told the Spanish Eye that his brother’s remains were released on Friday “after a week back and forth between the courts and coroner’s office.”
BAGPIPER DIES DOING POPULAR VACATION ATTRACTION DAYS BEFORE MISSING SON’S REMAINS FOUND IN BACKYARD TREEHOUSE
The remains of missing U.S. banker Grant Barr were found weeks after he disappeared.(Michael Barr Facebook)
“While the thoughts of a worst-case scenario came to mind from time to time, none of us actually thought this would ultimately be the outcome,” James Barr said.
James Barr also shared his frustration over the delay in notification, saying, “It means the last time we were all there searching for two weeks he was already found, however they didn’t even suggest that there was something they were looking into.”
Spain’s Guardia Civil and Policia Nacional have not commented on the case.
Barr worked at The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation and had previously worked for Citibank, according to his LinkedIn page.
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of our colleague, Grant Barr. On behalf of Grant’s coworkers and the entire BNY team, we wish to express our deepest sympathies to his family and will be supporting them at this incredibly difficult time,” a spokesperson for BNY shared with Fox News Digital.
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The U.S. Department of State also confirmed Barr’s passing to Fox News Digital and said they “offer our sincerest condolences to the family on their loss.”
Stepheny Price is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. She covers topics including missing persons, homicides, national crime cases, illegal immigration, and more. Story tips and ideas can be sent to stepheny.price@fox.com
A resident from South Bruce Peninsula has been defrauded of more than $63,000 in gold and cash after falling victim to an online scam, Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) say.
According to police, the victim was contacted by individuals posing as Microsoft representatives.
The scammers convinced the victim to provide remote access to their banking information and later asked to hand over a large sum in gold and cash.
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Police are warning the public to be cautious of unsolicited messages, pop-ups, phone calls, or emails demanding personal information or urgent action.
The OPP emphasized that legitimate companies will never ask for payment in the form of gold, cryptocurrency, or gift cards.
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Authorities also advice that if an individual still feels unsure about if an email or banking request is real, they should first call the official bank number to confirm.
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The incident was reported on April 14, and an investigation is ongoing.
Authorities are encouraging anyone who suspects fraud or has fallen victim to report it immediately to the OPP.
FIRST ON FOX: The vice mayor of a Florida town that is home to one of the country’s largest population of Venezuelan migrants is supporting a deal that will allow the city’s law enforcement to cooperate with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE).
“I support this agreement because I believe it is essential to strengthening our Police Department’s ability to carry out their duties effectively and responsibly,” Doral, Florida, Vice Mayor Maureen Porras told Fox News Digital. “By moving forward with this, we are ensuring that the City of Doral remains in full compliance with both state and federal mandates—an important step in maintaining public trust and upholding the rule of law.”
The comments come as Doral, a key Florida hub for Venezuelan immigrants, is set to vote on a potential agreement with ICE on Wednesday that would allow the city’s law enforcement to carry out some immigration-enforcement operations.
FLORIDA’S LARGEST VENEZUELAN STRONGHOLD POISED TO JOIN FORCES WITH ICE: REPORT
Doral Vice Mayor Maureen Porras told Fox News Digital that she will support the city’s potential agreement to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs.(Getty Images)
Members of the City Council will vote Wednesday on whether to ink a 287(g) program deal with ICE, which would allow Doral police officers to assist ICE with detentions, questioning and processing individuals suspected of breaking federal immigration laws.
Doral would become one of the latest local law enforcement agencies to join President Donald Trump’s push to ramp up deportation efforts, with 287(g) agreements with ICE seeing more widespread use across the country since the new president took office in January.
That effort was given a boost by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has encouraged local cooperation with federal immigration authorities through a law that requires the local agencies in charge of jails to be enrolled in 287(g) programs.
However, Doral’s involvement in the program could be seen as a seemingly surprising turn, with the city being home to one of the largest proportions of Venezuelan immigrants in the United States, leading to concerns about the program from many in the local population.
The 287(g) agreements with ICE have become more common across the country.(John Moore/Getty Images)
BLUE STATE SHERIFFS COMBINE FORCES TO FIGHT BACK AGAINST SANCTUARY LAWS
Doral Councilwoman Digna Cabral acknowledged those concerns, telling Fox News Digital that she hopes Doral Police Chief Edwin Lopez will provide further explanation on the details of the program during Wednesday’s proceedings, noting that immigration enforcement is “a sensitive topic” for many in the community.
“I believe it is important to approach this matter with care, clarity, and full transparency,” Cabral told Fox News Digital. “At this stage, I have not taken a final position, and I will await the full presentation and discussion at the Council meeting before making any further statements.”
Porras acknowledged those concerns as well, but argued that the agreement “is not designed to discriminate against anyone” and that she will not “support its use for that purpose.”
Doral, Florida is home to one of the largest populations of Venezuelan immigrants.(D.A. Varela/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
“As an experienced immigration attorney with many years of helping families in South Florida, I understand the serious consequences of discriminatory practices and remain fully committed to ensuring that our laws are applied fairly and justly,” Porras told Fox News Digital. “I will make sure that our law-abiding residents are not negatively affected. My focus is on promoting public safety, protecting civil rights, and ensuring that everyone in our community feels safe and respected.”
Michael Lee is a writer for Fox News. Prior to joining Fox News, Michael worked for the Washington Examiner, Bongino.com, and Unbiased America. He has covered politics for more than eight years.
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At least seven human remains found across Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts between March and April warrant “review and investigation,” according to Pennsylvania-based criminal defense attorney and former Lawrence County District Attorney Matthew Mangino.
Over the last two months, human remains have been located in New Haven, Norwalk, Groton and Killingly, Connecticut; Foster, Rhode Island; and Framingham and Plymouth, Massachusetts.
It is unclear at this point if the deaths of these seven victims are related in any way, and Connecticut State Police told Fox News Digital on Tuesday that “there is no information at this time suggesting any connection to similar remains discoveries, and there is also no known threat to the public at this time,” regarding the deaths in Connecticut.
Internet sleuths who are part of a private Facebook page with tens of thousands of members, however, have prompted speculation about a lone-wolf perpetrator.
“Whether it’s coincidental or not, I think it merits review and investigation, at least,” Mangino told Fox News Digital. “Collaboration between the different jurisdictions to determine whether or not there is some threat out there to individuals — that may be going on as we speak. We don’t know that, but I think it does merit that kind of scrutiny.”
NEW ENGLAND SERIAL KILLER FEARS GROW AS POLICE DOWNPLAY THREAT ENCROACHING ON WEALTHY COASTAL ENCLAVES
Part of that investigation, Mangino said, should include looking for any kind of “patterns” between the respective deaths or crime scenes.
“These different jurisdictions need to get together and compare notes and reports. You can initially see if there are any similarities between these deaths,” Mangino said. “Were these homicides? I mean, we may find that these are natural deaths or … it could be a suicide, it could be accidental. So, the number one issue is: is there enough to determine the cause and manner of death?”
‘HAPPY FACE’ SERIAL KILLER NEARLY CONFESSED BRUTAL MURDERS TO TEEN DAUGHTER: ‘YOU’LL TELL THE AUTHORITIES’
Sometimes a serial killer may have a process of “staging” bodies or targeting specific victims who share certain physical features or backgrounds.
“It certainly merits investigation and review.”
— Matthew Mangino, criminal defense attorney
Brian Higgins, adjunct faculty member at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and former chief of police and director of public safety in Bergen County, New Jersey, noted that three of the victims in these seven cases have been identified as women. Police also believe the victim found in Killingly was a woman in her 40s to 60s.
Norwalk, Connecticut, police identified the remains of a 35-year-old woman in the swiftly moving Norwalk River on March 6 after heavy rainfall the night before.(iStock)
“Well, you have the remains of seven people — that doesn’t mean necessarily all seven are [victims] of a serial killer,” Higgins said. “It could be, later on, you know, two or three victims. But it brought attention to these deaths, and that’s a positive way to look at that.”
The relatives of Michele Romano, the victim found in Rhode Island last month, have said her death was not related to a serial killer in a post on the Facebook page “Justice for Michele Romano.”
“In light of the recent comments being made, we know that Michele’s passing is in no way related to any type of serial killer,” the family wrote. “We have complete faith in the Rhode Island State Police and our Private Investigator that the person responsible will be brought to justice sooner rather than later!”
Fox News Digital reached out to Rhode Island State Police.
One set of the human remains was found in Groton, Connecticut.(iStock)
Higgins said while seven discoveries of remains in a geographically close region over two months is “unusual,” “just because they’re discovered in a short amount of time doesn’t mean necessarily that they’re connected in a timeline as far as death.”
While the remains were located over the span of two months, that does not indicate the victims died around the same time. The remains discovered in Massachusetts, for example, were several months old, according to police.
FOX HOLLOW SERIAL KILLER VICTIM’S FAMILY SEEKS HELP TO ID 10,000 PIECES OF REMAINS: ‘SECOND ONLY TO 9/11’
Higgins and Mangino pointed to social media as both a tool and a hindrance for police looking into these different cases.
One set of the human remains was discovered in Framingham, Massachusetts.(iStock)
“True crime is the hottest thing on television, on podcasts and social media,” Mangino said. “Certainly, there are times when these amateur sleuths can be helpful to law enforcement, but what it does is it creates a lot of…tension. At times it can make things difficult for investigators who are trying to remain open-minded and not create some sort of tunnel vision where, all of a sudden, there’s concern in the community and panic because people believe there’s a serial killer, and they’re calling law enforcement on neighbors because they think they are acting suspicious.”
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Higgins similarly said that social media “is considered in law enforcement as a two-edged sword.”
“In some respect … it could point law enforcement to other similarities or in a direction they wouldn’t normally have gone. Somebody, just one person as part of this group, might raise an issue that will be that one thread that connects us,” Higgins said. “The other side, of course, is it’s fueling all this attention on this, and it may negatively impact the law enforcement officers … because now you’ve almost tainted a witness pool. People have this slant already that this is a serial killer, and these people were all killed by homicide. So it can interfere.”
The New England Serial Killer Facebook group, which has 57,000 members, garnered more than 10,000 new members last week and over the weekend, as MassLive.com first reported.
Searches for “New England serial killer” on Google spiked around April 7, according to data from the search engine.
Babies and young children might be breathing in harmful chemicals while they sleep, according to new research from the University of Toronto.
Two studies, published Tuesday in the journal Environmental Science & Technology, found that common children’s mattresses release toxic substances like phthalates and flame retardants — chemicals linked to hormone disruption, asthma, lower IQ scores, behaviour issues and even cancer.
“Sleep is vital for brain development, particularly for infants and toddlers. However, our research suggests that many mattresses contain chemicals that can harm kids’ brains,” said Miriam Diamond, senior author of the two studies and a professor in the University of Toronto’s department of earth sciences and school of the environment.
“Kids can spend up to 18 hours a day on their mattresses, and kids are more susceptible to exposure and more vulnerable to the effects of exposure,” she said.
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The studies didn’t disclose brand names, but Diamond said the mattresses were ordered online from major Canadian retailers and typically cost between $50 and $150. Many were made with materials from other countries, like the United States and Mexico.
5:55 Everyday items that could be sneaking toxins into your life
Infant mattresses are often made with different materials, such as waterproof covers, plastic layers and firmer foam, which can contain more chemical additives and treatments than those made for older children or adults, Diamond explained.
That’s part of the reason she and her team wanted to study the potential chemical exposure in these products.
Health Canada told Global News in an email that it is aware of the studies and is carefully reviewing the findings and other available information to identify any risks to human health or non-compliance with legislative or regulatory requirements.
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“The Department will take appropriate action to protect people in Canada,” a spokesperson said Tuesday. “The Canada Consumer Product Safety Act (CCPSA) prohibits the manufacture, import, advertisement or sale of any consumer product that is a ‘danger to human health or safety.’”
‘Twice the regulatory limit’
In the first study, researchers looked at the air quality in 25 bedrooms of children between six months and four years old, located in Toronto and Ottawa between 2022 and 2023.
In total, they found 28 different chemicals in the bedroom air, 31 in the sleeping area and 30 coming off the mattresses. The chemicals include phthalates, flame retardants and UV filters, with the highest concentrations right around the beds.
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Phthalates are added to make plastics more flexible, flame retardants help slow the spread of fire, and UV filters protect materials from sun damage.
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But Health Canada has linked these chemicals to reproductive and developmental issues and has even restricted their use in the soft vinyl used in children’s toys.
Flame retardants have been linked to hormone disruption, reproductive issues and even cancer, according to Health Canada.
But under Canada’s safety standards, they aren’t required to meet flammability rules. Mattresses only need to pass a “smouldering cigarette test” — something that can be done without using these chemicals, the study said.
In a follow-up study, the researchers tested 16 brand-new children’s mattresses purchased from well-known retailers in 2024.
2:00 Cancerous chemicals banned in Canada found in kids’ toys: study
The study found that one particular mattress exceeded Canada’s 0.1 per cent regulatory limit for the chemical Dnbp, which is a type of phthalate.
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“We were particularly surprised that one mattress exceeded the regulatory limit in Canada. It’s a particular plasticizer that Health Canada has said it should not be above the 0.1 per cent limit,” Diamond said. “And one of the mattresses had that at 0.22, so twice the regulatory limit.”
One of the mattresses had high levels of a flame retardant called TCEP — a chemical that’s been banned in Canada since 2014 because of health concerns, such as causing cancer and reproductive effects.
On top of that, five of the mattresses had between one to three per cent of other similar chemicals known as organophosphate esters, flame retardants and plasticizers, which are also linked to health concerns.
Five of the mattresses also had phthalates — including DiBP, DnOP and DiNP — which are banned in kids’ toys but not in mattresses.
The researchers also wanted to understand how chemical emissions changed when a child was using the mattress, with body weight and warmth.
When they simulated a child’s body heat and pressure, the amount of chemicals released increased significantly — in some cases, several times higher than at room temperature.
Karl Jobst, an associate professor of chemistry at Memorial University of Newfoundland, said this study represents “yet more evidence that there are some potentially harmful chemicals being added to consumer products that don’t actually need to be.”
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“The study makes a good point that there are certain flame retardants that are present in high concentrations in a mattress, yet are not needed,” he said. “There have to be more logical solutions to protect a kid from fire rather than having them breathe that in for a large fraction of the day.”
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Why kids are so vulnerable to toxins
What makes all these chemicals in mattresses especially concerning is how vulnerable young children are, Diamond said.
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Their bodies are still developing, they breathe much faster than adults (about 10 times more) and they’re constantly putting things in their mouths, she said.
Their skin is also thinner and more absorbent, with a lot more surface area compared to their body weight, which means they can absorb more of whatever’s around them, including harmful chemicals.
“Then they’re sleeping on a mattress and right against it … so the skin is right against a mattress,” she said.
Also, the chemicals found in the study are known carcinogens and also known to cause behavioural issues, she said.
“So effects like ADHD, difficulties with social circumstances, lowering IQ, there’s a whole range of behavioural outcomes,” Diamond said. “So that’s why we were concerned, and that’s why we were looking at these chemicals.”
“And some of the phthalates have been known endocrine disruptors. Some of them are related to abnormal development of the male reproductive system, but also have implications for the female reproductive system,” she added.
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At the end of the study, the researchers call on manufacturers to do better when it comes to testing for harmful chemicals in kids’ mattresses.
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They also say it’s time for stronger regulations, especially around flame retardants and plasticizers. In Canada, they recommend expanding existing bans on certain chemicals in toys to include mattresses and bedding, since several mattresses still contain banned or restricted substances.
In the meantime, Diamond said there are actions parents can take to reduce their children’s exposure.
She recommends decluttering your child’s sleeping area by reducing the number of pillows, blankets and toys. She also advises washing and refreshing your child’s bedding and bed clothing frequently, since these act as a protective barrier to reduce exposure.
An effective way to add a layer of protection between the sheet and the mattress is by using a terry cloth towel or a wool blanket — both can help absorb some of the chemical emissions, she said.
“Terry cloth is very clever … it increases the effectiveness of the towel sucking up both water and chemicals,” she explained.
Finally, Diamond said that undyed or neutral colour fabrics are likely safer to use since keeping strong colours requires the addition of UV-filters and other additives that may be harmful.
What Texas, New York rulings mean for Trump’s use of Alien Enemies Act
03:09
Washington — A federal judge said Wednesday that probable cause exists to find the Trump administration in criminal contempt over its defiance of an order to turn around planes carrying Venezuelan migrants that was bound for El Salvador.
U.S. District Judge James Boasberg wrote in a 46-page decision that the government’s actions on March 15 “demonstrate a willful disregard” for his order barring the government from transferring certain migrants into Salvadoran custody under the wartime Alien Enemies Act.
Those actions, he wrote, are “sufficient for the court to conclude that probable cause exists to find the government in criminal contempt. The Court does not reach such conclusion lightly or hastily; indeed, it has given Defendants ample opportunity to rectify or explain their actions. None of their responses has been satisfactory.”
“The Constitution does not tolerate willful disobedience of judicial orders — especially by officials of a coordinate branch who have sworn an oath to uphold it,” Boasberg wrote.
This is a developing story and will be updated
Melissa Quinn
Melissa Quinn is a politics reporter for CBSNews.com. She has written for outlets including the Washington Examiner, Daily Signal and Alexandria Times. Melissa covers U.S. politics, with a focus on the Supreme Court and federal courts.
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