Washington, DC – As of January 22, 2026, federal drinking water protections are rapidly unraveling. The Trump administration’s Environmental Protection Agency is moving to weaken and delay safeguards against toxic “forever chemicals”, with rollbacks scheduled to begin in spring 2026, a decision public health experts warn will increase cancer risk nationwide.
According to the EPA, the agency plans to rescind enforceable drinking water limits for four PFAS chemicals—GenX, PFHxS, PFNA, and PFBS—that were finalized in a 2024 rule. At the same time, the EPA would delay compliance deadlines for PFOA and PFOS, the two most widespread PFAS compounds, pushing required action by water systems back to 2031.
Scientists say the dangers are well documented. According to the National Academies of Sciences, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and extensive peer-reviewed research, long-term PFAS exposure is linked to kidney cancer, testicular cancer, liver damage, immune system suppression, infertility, and developmental harm in children. PFAS chemicals persist in the environment and accumulate in the human body, meaning continued exposure compounds risk over time.
Environmental and medical organizations argue the administration’s actions represent a clear retreat from established science, prioritizing regulatory cost concerns over health protection. “This is not about uncertainty,” the Environmental Working Group said in a statement. “Delaying limits guarantees continued exposure to toxic chemicals.”
State attorneys general, including Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, have warned the rollback will disproportionately affect communities near industrial facilities and military bases, where PFAS contamination levels are often highest. Critics say the decision shifts the real cost of pollution onto families through higher cancer rates, lifelong medical care, and preventable illness.
The EPA says revised PFAS rules may not be finalized until spring 2026, leaving weakened protections in place for years. Public health experts stress that every month of delay matters—because once toxic PFAS enter drinking water and the human body, they are extremely difficult to remove.
