Federal PFAS action may slow, but not state efforts or litigation

By Delger Erdenesanaa | C&EN | January 6, 2026

Read the full article by Delger Erdenesanaa (C&EN)

“The US Environmental Protection Agency begins 2026 amid a move to rescind drinking water standards for four types of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), along with other ongoing actions on these ‘forever chemicals.’ Policy and regulation experts tell C&EN that we may see less new federal action on PFAS this year but that litigation and state action show no signs of slowing down.

Asked about this effort and other agency priorities regarding PFAS in 2026, an EPA spokesperson wrote to C&EN, ‘The Trump EPA is committed to addressing PFAS with gold-standard science to ensure that Americans have the cleanest air, land, and water, carrying out our core mission of protecting human health and the environment.’

The federal drinking water standards for the four PFAS were established in 2024 as part of a package that also limits perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS).” …

This content provided by the PFAS Project.