Current Events in February 2025

Is the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in its last days? Its director, Rohit Chopra, was dismissed earlier this week and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was named to head the bureau temporarily. The staff has been told not to enact any new regulations.

Press reports say members of Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have moved into the agency's headquarters to begin rifling through its records. 

Musk limited himself to one word on his X site:

CFPB RIP 🪦

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 7, 2025

Musk, the world's richest person, has been tasked by President Trump to take on a massive downsizing of the federal government and the prime targets appear to be the agencies that have most annoyed conservatives over the years.

That would certainly include the CFPB, which has been reviled by banks and other financial services institutions. Under Chopra, the bureau has passed regulations calling for lower interest rates, more accurate credit reports, fewer "junk fees" and better disclosure of the terms of financial transactions large and small.

Musk has been calling for the CFPB's elimination since November and three Musk aides are now listed as "senior advisor" in the CFPB's directory, Reuters reported.

Musk has also called for the elimination of USAID and on Friday, workers began removing signs from the agency's building. A judge temporarily block the Trump team's efforts to close the agency and place its 2,200 employees on leave. 

The Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA) has detected a second strain of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) – or bird flu – in a herd of dairy cattle. 

The agency has quarantined the infected herds and has conducted mandatory testing of the rest of the herd. Consumers are safe to continue eating and drinking dairy products, so long as they’re pasteurized and cooked to appropriate temperatures. 

"Ensuring the safety of the industry is our utmost priority, and the NDA is working with industry members," NDA State Veterinarian Peter Rolfe, DVM, said in the news release. "It is critical that animal health biosecurity practices are enhanced to help prevent the spread of disease and protect animal and worker safety."

A new strain of the virus

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) discovered the recent dairy cattle outbreak in Nevada as a result of its ongoing National Milk Testing Strategy. 

What’s unique about this infected herd of cattle is the strain of the virus that was detected. Throughout the ongoing bird flu epidemic, most animals and people have been infected with the genotype B3.13. However, these cattle have been infected with genotype D1.1. 

This strain of the virus is most common in wild birds, mammals, domestic poultry, and most recently, in humans. It was this strain of the bird flu that was the result of the first infection-related death in Louisiana. 

Experts say this strain is likely to produce more severe symptoms – in both animals and humans. The original B3.13 strain was linked with more mild symptoms for both animals and humans infected. 

Despite this, the USDA says the overall risk to consumers’ health remains low, and the agency’s strategy to continue its ongoing testing program hasn’t changed. 

Nevada is taking steps to stop the spread

In addition to quarantining dairy cattle in the affected counties, the NDA is working with the USDA Wildlife Services to ensure more animals aren’t infected and the outbreak remains contained. 

"The challenge with this virus is that it may be spread through contaminated clothing worn and equipment shared between animals, but birds carrying the disease can also infect domestic animals and livestock," NDA Director J.J. Goicoechea, DVM, said in a news release. 

"We cannot stress enough how important it is to keep equipment clean, practice good animal health safety practices, and bolster biosecurity measures to prevent the spread of disease."

The NDA is closely monitoring its dairy cattle to detect the virus before the cows start showing symptoms. They’re also working to remove non-native European starlings from the affected counties, as these birds are the source of many infections, and can even contaminate food and water sources for other animals. 

"The protection of public and animal health is our utmost priority," Dr. Goicoechea said in the news release.

Calls to poison control centers among youth because of energy drinks have surged recently.

There was a 35% increase in calls to poison centers fearing overdoses from energy drinks for people younger than 20 from 2011 through 2023, according to a study by researchers at the Center for Injury Research and Policy of the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and the Central Ohio Poison Center, published in the the Journal of Medical Toxicology.

And there was an alarming 633%, or more than seven times, increase in calls after youth consumed powders that mix into liquid to create energy drinks, the researchers said.

"Because of unclear dosing instructions or preparation errors, overdose can occur," said Hannah Hays, co-author of the study and medical director at the Central Ohio Poison Center. "Concentrated powder or granules may also be mistaken by a young child as a food item."

Most calls were among children younger than six at 70% and males at 57% among all caffeine-energy products, which included energy drinks, powders and solids, such as capsules, the researchers said.

“The high and increasing rate of exposure in this vulnerable age group indicates that caffeine energy products are accessible and attractive to young children,” Hays said. “Caffeine energy products should not have packaging that is appealing to young children and should be kept out of the sight and reach of young children.”

Still, 81% of calls didn't result in treatment at a medical facility and only 1.6% of cases were admitted for treatment, the researchers said.

But the researchers said teenagers aged 13 to 19 years old were more likely to need medical attention.

How can parents protect kids from energy drinks?

The researchers have recommendations for parents who want to keep their children safe from caffeine products:

• Talk with children: Have age-appropriate conversations with children about caffeine-energy products, explaining what these products are and why they can be dangerous. Review labels together so everyone understands what’s in the products. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children and teens don't consume energy drinks.
• Store safely: The best way to keep children safe from caffeine energy products is to keep them out of the home. If these products are kept in the home, store them in a safe place away from your children—stored up and out of sight, away from food and locked, if possible. Ask that caregivers around children do the same in their homes.
• Don’t use in front of children: It is helpful to never use these products in front of children, especially if packaged to look like treats.
• Keep the national Poison Help Line handy: Have the number for stored in phones and posted in a visible pace. The national Poison Help Line can be reached 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1-800-222-1222. 

Email Dieter Holger at dholger@consumeraffairs.