EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin encouraged MAHA supporters to press Congress to pass laws ensuring polluters, not ratepayers, pay for PFAS cleanup. He noted the EPA extended a PFAS compliance deadline and has delayed some approvals amid activist concerns. Zeldin said a glyphosate review is on track for completion in 2026 and announced a new Water Reuse Action Plan 2.0 to expand industrial and environmental water-reuse efforts. He also called for clearer public communication from the agency and said he is content in his EPA role.
EPA's Zeldin Urges Congress to Act on PFAS 'Forever Chemicals' and Announces Water Reuse Plan 2.0
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin on Thursday urged supporters of MAHA — Make America Healthy Again — to press Congress for legislation that ensures polluters, not ratepayers, cover the costs of cleaning up PFAS contamination in drinking water.
Speaking at the Semafor World Economy conference in Washington, D.C., Zeldin said the agency's existing regulatory tools for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were not designed to make polluters pay for widespread contamination.
"Yeah, of course. Absolutely," Zeldin said when asked whether MAHA backers should work with lawmakers. "There are people to work with in Congress on both sides of the aisle... It is on Congress to pass new legislation to ensure that ratepayers aren’t going to have to clean up PFAS contamination in their drinking water supply."
The MAHA movement, led by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has had a sometimes tense relationship with the EPA. Under Zeldin's leadership, the agency has taken steps to ease regulatory burdens on businesses, including extending a PFAS compliance deadline by two years. The Washington Post also reported that the EPA has delayed approvals for certain uses of so-called "forever chemicals," a move Zeldin has reportedly taken in part to avoid provoking activists.
Zeldin addressed another MAHA concern: the controversial herbicide ingredient glyphosate. He said the EPA's review is ongoing and is expected to conclude in 2026. "This is something that continues to move. It’s on track, and we want to follow gold-standard science. We want to be fully transparent with the public on the findings that come back," he said.
The administrator acknowledged the agency needs to improve public communication. "We have web pages that are technical — that if you are a MAHA mom or dad, for example, you go to the web page, you might not be finding all the answers you’re looking for," he said, stressing a need for clearer, more accessible information.
Water Reuse Action Plan 2.0
At the event, Zeldin announced a new EPA initiative to expand water recycling and reuse efforts. Building on the original National Water Reuse Action Plan from the first Trump administration, the updated "Water Reuse Action Plan 2.0" aims to boost environmental protection and industrial efficiency, citing heavy water use in data centers, AI facilities and the energy sector.
Zeldin, a former Republican congressman and ex-GOP candidate for New York governor, has been mentioned as a possible attorney general nominee after the recent firing of former AG Pam Bondi. When asked about that speculation, he said he is happy in his current role: "This is the best job I’ve ever had. I enjoy this position in every minute of every day."
What This Means: The EPA under Zeldin is seeking a balance between regulatory relief for industry and responding to public concerns about contamination and chemical safety. Concrete congressional action on liability for PFAS cleanup and transparent scientific reviews for pesticides such as glyphosate remain central to the discussion.
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