The Trump administration is moving forward with plans to loosen regulations on drinking water, specifically targeting protections against chemicals commonly referred to as “forever chemicals,” which have been associated with various health risks including cancer, reproductive issues, and liver damage.
Last year, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established the country’s first legally binding limits on some of the most prevalent forever chemicals. Recent announcements signal a reversal, as the agency indicates a desire to remove several chemical types from this regulatory framework, including GenX substances, which were originally designed to replace older chemicals but have raised new health concerns. The EPA has also proposed extending deadlines for compliance regarding the two most common chemicals.
Public health and environmental advocates have criticized these proposed changes, expressing fears for the health of Americans. Mary Grant, director of the water program at Food & Water Watch, described the decision as a “shameful and dangerous capitulation to industry pressure,” warning that it will likely lead to continued contamination of water supplies.
“A shameful and dangerous capitulation to industry pressure”
There are thousands of varieties of forever chemicals, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), utilized in numerous consumer products ranging from nonstick cookware to food packaging and stain-resistant fabrics. These substances are intricately tangled in the nation’s water systems, with estimates suggesting they contaminate about 45 percent of the nation’s tap water and are found in the bloodstream of the majority of Americans.
Under the limits established during the Biden administration, federal standards apply to five major types of forever chemicals: PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, PFHxS, and HFPO-DA, along with various mixtures of related substances.
Some companies have preemptively eliminated PFAS from their products in response to legal challenges. 3M recently reached a $450 million settlement with New Jersey regarding PFAS pollution.
In an effort to further investigate these chemicals, the EPA announced plans in April to implement guidelines aimed at reducing pollution from manufacturers. However, advocates expressed concerns that these initiatives could simply lead to further delays instead of proactive measures, especially amid the Trump administration’s budget cuts affecting the agency.
The signals from the EPA indicate a reluctance to enforce current standards on forever chemicals as they pertain to drinking water.
Initially, compliance deadlines were set for 2029, but the agency now plans to only maintain limits on PFOA and PFOS, postponing the deadline to 2031 to ease the burden on smaller water systems. Forever chemicals are notoriously persistent in the environment, and the Trump administration claims the new proposal aims to save costs.
Matthew Holmes, CEO of the National Rural Water Association, commented that this decision provides necessary time for water systems to identify feasible treatment solutions and attain compliance.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin stated that the agency is committed to upholding national standards to safeguard public health from PFOA and PFOS while providing practical compliance flexibility. The agency plans to release a detailed proposal in the autumn, with an aim to finalize regulations by spring 2026.
