The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a dangerous rollback of critical drinking water protections against toxic PFAS “forever chemicals,” putting the health of millions of Americans at risk.

In 2024, the EPA finalized the nation’s first-ever enforceable drinking water standards for six PFAS chemicals linked to cancer, immune system suppression, liver and kidney damage, reproductive harm, developmental issues, and hormone disruption. These standards were designed to help protect families from toxic contamination in their drinking water and hold polluters accountable.

Now, the EPA is rescinding protections for four PFAS chemicals – including GenX, PFHxS, PFNA, and PFBS – while delaying compliance deadlines for the remaining standards. These chemicals have contaminated drinking water supplies across the country, including in Michigan communities like Oscoda and Grayling that have already suffered the devastating impacts of PFAS pollution tied to military fire training operations.

Scientific evidence makes clear that regulating only PFOA and PFOS is not enough. Short-chain PFAS like GenX and PFBS are highly persistent, difficult to remove from drinking water, and associated with many of the same serious health harms as older PFAS chemicals. The rollback eliminates key monitoring requirements that help communities understand what contaminants are in their drinking water. It will also likely cause massive delays for cleanups scheduled to take place at military facilities, like Oscoda and Grayling.

Communities impacted by toxic PFAS contamination deserve transparency about what they are being exposed to, not weaker protections and less oversight. Weakening protections now will leave communities more vulnerable to contamination and increase long-term health care costs for families nationwide.

The EPA is now accepting public comments on the proposed rule change until July 20, 2026. Send a message today!

Tell the EPA: Maintain drinking water protections for toxic PFAS and protect our communities →