The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a series of major initiatives to tackle PFAS contamination, making significant progress in ensuring safer water and healthier communities across the country.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin highlighted EPA’s accomplishments in the Trump administration’s first year, emphasizing a comprehensive strategy that combines science, enforcement, and community support.
Commenting on the country’s progress in combating PFAS nationally, Zeldin commented: “Protecting the American public from the risks of PFAS chemicals has been a top priority of mine since my time in Congress.
“At the Trump EPA, we are focused on real results to protect families, farmers, and small businesses. That means identifying PFAS, preventing PFAS from entering drinking water, cleaning up sites where they are already a problem, and holding polluters accountable.”
“These efforts are just the beginning of the work we will do against PFAS contamination to ensure all Americans have the cleanest air, land, and water.”
PFAS: Risks hidden in daily life
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are man-made chemicals that have been widely used for more than 70 years in products such as nonstick cookware, food packaging, stain-resistant fabrics, and firefighting foam.
They are highly persistent in the environment and some are associated with health risks from long-term exposure.
Reducing exposure to PFAS is a cornerstone of the Trump administration’s “Make America Healthy Again” agenda, which combines community action, advanced research, and regulatory oversight to protect public health.
Launch of PFAS OUTreach initiative to strengthen community response
EPA’s PFAS OUTreach (PFAS OUT) initiative connects public water systems in need of upgrades with technical experts and local leaders.
This program specifically targets communities that have found PFOA and PFOS, two of the most well-studied PFAS compounds, in their water.
By partnering with local, state, tribal, and territorial authorities, PFAS OUT aims to provide practical solutions to reduce exposure and improve water quality where it is needed most.
Additionally, EPA has allocated $945 million to help communities reduce PFAS risks, demonstrating a strong commitment to translating policy into concrete action.
Expanding detection and research for safer water
Central to combating PFAS contamination is expanding EPA’s testing capacity. The agency has developed methods to detect up to 40 PFAS compounds in a variety of environments, including wastewater, surface water, groundwater, soil, sludge, sediment, landfill fluids, and even fish tissue.
These advanced technologies enable early detection of contamination threats and informed responses.
EPA also employs both targeted and untargeted testing approaches, allowing scientists to accurately measure known PFAS chemicals while discovering previously unidentified compounds. This dual approach strengthens the reliability of the data used to guide cleanup and regulatory decisions.
Increased regulation and oversight
The agency proposed updates to PFAS reporting under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) that would streamline requirements while ensuring the collection of important safety data.
At the same time, to protect public health, the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (NPDWR) are being revised for PFOA and PFOS, with realistic compliance schedules to support successful implementation.
EPA also reaffirmed the PFOA and PFOS hazardous substance list under CERCLA, allowing for stronger enforcement and cleanup actions at contaminated sites.
Guidance on the destruction and disposal of PFAS is currently updated annually to reflect the agency’s efforts to keep pace with evolving treatment technologies.
Local actions to address PFAS contamination
EPA is taking concrete steps to reduce exposure at the community level. Highlights include:
Installed a 108-point treated water system near the Route 31 Sludge Superfund site in New Jersey, providing bottled water to approximately 200 residents. Four PFAS treatment systems completed in Southern California, protecting more than 9,500 homes in Irvine Ranch and Orange County. Enforcement requiring removal of PFAS foam and cleaning of systems at Brunswick, Maine Executive Airport. PFAS well sampling efforts at military locations such as Fort Bragg and Joint Base Lewis-McChord, North Carolina; They have agreements in place to connect homes to the municipal water supply if pollution exceeds safety standards.
These community interventions demonstrate EPA’s focus on protecting both the general public and sensitive populations from PFAS risks.
A concerted federal effort for comprehensive protection
EPA is establishing an internal coordination group that brings together senior leaders from program offices and regions. This ensures that research, innovation and cleaning efforts are shared efficiently and applied consistently across the country.
The agency uses broad authority under multiple environmental laws, including the Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, and Superfund Act, to prevent and remediate PFAS contamination.
From regulating new chemicals to enforcing the cleanup of contaminated sites, EPA’s science-driven approach prioritizes human health and environmental protection.
Looking to the future: continuous innovation and outreach
The EPA plans to work with local governments and the private sector to expand PFAS testing, improve treatment techniques, and strengthen enforcement.
These efforts aim to provide practical solutions to pollution problems and ensure that all Americans have access to clean air, water, and soil.
Through ongoing research, rigorous testing, and a coordinated federal effort, EPA is demonstrating that addressing PFAS contamination requires both scientific rigor and community-focused action.
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