The Trump administration is moving to roll back Biden-era limits on “forever chemicals” in drinking water, a move that has angered parts of the president’s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) coalition and environmental groups. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced plans on Monday to repeal limits on four types of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), while delaying regulations on two others. These compounds are known as “forever chemicals” due to their persistence in the environment and ability to accumulate in the human body.
Background on PFAS Regulations
The Biden administration had established landmark limits on PFAS in drinking water in 2024, marking the first new federal contaminant standard for drinking water since 1996 and the first enforceable national PFAS water standard. EPA officials had concluded that long-term exposure to these chemicals is linked to cancer, immune system issues, and developmental delays in children. The Trump proposal would repeal those limits, with the agency planning to review the compounds and potentially issue new regulations. Additionally, the administration seeks to give utilities up to a two-year delay in complying with limits on PFOS and PFOA, two related compounds.
Administration’s Justification
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin argued that the moves are necessary because the Biden administration rushed the regulatory process, exposing the 2024 limits to court challenges from chemical manufacturers and utilities. “It’s not because they don’t matter,” Zeldin said at an event at EPA headquarters in Washington. “They might warrant strict standards, possibly even stricter than what was previously regulated.” Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. added, “The president is completely committed to removing PFAS.”
Reactions from MAHA and Environmentalists
The rollback has drawn criticism from some MAHA supporters. Activist Kelly Ryerson, known online as the Glyphosate Girl, told The New York Times: “We have more than enough evidence to show that forever chemicals are harmful to human health. I would strongly advise the EPA not to move forward on deregulating PFAS if they want to win the November midterms.” Environmental groups have also voiced concern. David Andrews, chief science officer for the Environmental Working Group, told The Washington Post: “I don’t see how you put a positive light on this. Ultimately, I see this as a betrayal of public health and the mission of making America healthier. Safe and clean drinking water should be a right for everyone in this country.”
All 50 states have recorded PFAS levels in drinking water above the EPA limit, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council. The proposed changes are now open for two months of public comment before being finalized. This is not the first time the Trump administration has angered its MAHA base; it previously reapproved the weedkiller dicamba for use on genetically modified soybeans and cotton, despite critics alleging it drifts into neighboring fields and destroys non-resistant crops.
