A hearing on kids' online safety turned into a contentious discussion about the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) ability to enforce laws, as Democrats and Republicans clashed over the agency's future and its role in protecting children online.

The House Energy and Commerce subcommittee met to discuss bipartisan bills aimed at safeguarding kids online, including the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) and the Children and Teens' Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA 2.0). However, the conversation quickly shifted to the FTC's enforcement capabilities, following President Donald Trump's recent attempt to fire two Democratic commissioners, Rebecca Kelly Slaughter and Alvaro Bedoya.

Democrats on the panel expressed concerns that the FTC's weakened state would hinder its ability to enforce child safety laws, while Republicans downplayed the issue, focusing on the importance of passing new legislation. Ranking member of the commerce subcommittee, Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), stated that she was "absolutely furious" about the attempted firings, which she believes would undermine the FTC's ability to protect children.

Slaughter and Bedoya, who were present at the hearing, warned that their removals would thwart transparency and accountability within the agency. Bedoya expressed concerns that without dissenting voices, the FTC's decisions would lack important context and alternative perspectives. "If there's an action brought up to the commission, and the commissioners say no, that never becomes public," he said.

Republicans, however, painted the FTC firings as a distraction from the main issue of protecting children online. Full committee Chair Brett Guthrie (R-KY) stated that the hearing was about children, not about Washington politics. Subcommittee Chair Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Rep. Erin Houchin (R-IN) echoed this sentiment, with Houchin apologizing to parents in the audience for the "distraction" caused by the media's focus on the FTC.

Despite the partisan divide, Democrats argued that laws are useless without effective enforcement, which they believe is under threat. KOSA co-sponsor Kathy Castor (D-FL) questioned how they could regain trust in Republicans if they "take the cops off the beat" and block legislation that has been hammered out over years of work in the committee.

The questions about rule of law and who will enforce it extend far beyond the FTC. Trump's empowerment of Elon Musk's pet project, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has raised concerns about the federal workforce and the potential shutdown of agencies created by congressional statute. Many experts warn that we are already in or soon could be in a constitutional crisis, as Trump appears willing to flout laws and court orders.

Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ), ranking member of the full committee, pointed out that Republicans were the reason KOSA didn't pass last year, suggesting that they are "in the pocket of Big Tech" and do not care about kids' online safety. KOSA and COPPA 2.0 have faced criticism for potentially infringing on speech and privacy, but Democrats argue that these concerns can be addressed through effective enforcement and oversight.

In the end, the hearing highlighted the deep partisan divide on issues related to child safety and the FTC's role in enforcing laws. As the agency's future remains uncertain, it is unclear whether child safety laws will be effectively enforced, leaving many to wonder about the implications for kids' online safety.