EPA Backtracks on First-Ever Limits on Forever Chemicals

What Happened: The EPA is trying to reverse public health protections against toxic PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” in drinking water. Its plans would jeopardize the drinking water of up to 105 million people across the U.S.

Why It Matters: PFAS are a large class of toxic, synthetic chemicals linked to cancer, reproductive and developmental harms, and immune system suppression. The Trump administration continues to boast about its commitment to “making America healthy again,” but it is doing the opposite.

The EPA is accepting public comments on its proposed rollbacks now. They need to hear from us while we have the chance to push back on this proposed rule.

PFAS Are a Threat to Human Health

• What are PFAS? “PFAS” is short for per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances. Chemical companies use this class of more than 15,000 chemicals to produce a variety of products including non-stick cookware, waterproof clothing, water resistant products, cosmetics, food packaging, and even foams used to extinguish fires.

• A widespread hazard: Corporations’ reckless and federally unregulated use of PFAS has poisoned the drinking water of up to 200 million people across the U.S.

• It’s in all of us: These extremely toxic chemicals build up in the human body over time and take years to break down. More than 97% of the U.S. population has PFAS in their bodies, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Abandoning Promised Protections

• First limits of their kind: In April 2024, the EPA set the first-ever nationwide limits on PFAS – a critical step toward addressing widespread contamination..

• Its final rule covered six PFAS chemicals that have contaminated water across the U.S. and required water utilities to take steps to ensure that they remain below a set legal limit by April 2029.

• Reneging on protections: In May 2026, the Trump administration announced plans to eliminate these critical drinking water standards for four of the six highly toxic PFAS. It also plans to allow water systems to put off complying with the standards for the remaining two – PFOA and PFOS, the most notorious of these “forever chemicals.”

How Earthjustice Will Keep Fighting to Protect Communities From PFAS

PFAS contamination is a multi-faceted problem — so we’re pursuing multifaceted solutions. Here are just a few:

• Empowering communities: Earthjustice is representing community organizations who intervened in ongoing litigation brought by chemical companies and water utility associations. We did so to  defend the nation’s first-ever drinking water standards for PFAS, especially after decades of misuse and chemical companies keeping the known dangers from the public. We will continue to defend those standards in court.

• Working in partnership: We are working with a coalition of organizations to push for strong state-level regulations for PFAS to ensure action is being taken to protect communities.

• Pushing for public information: We have fought for greater transparency of PFAS- contaminated sites, including where and in what quantities they are released, as well as medical monitoring for communities exposed to toxic PFAS.