EnvironmentGovernmentPolicy

Proposed EPA Rule Could Evaluate Toxic Chemical Risks with Less Rigor, Limit State Powers

The Trump administration’s EPA has proposed a rule that could weaken safety reviews for toxic chemicals and prevent states from enacting their own restrictions, according to reports. Critics warn this may increase health risks for consumers and workers exposed to hazardous substances.

Proposed Changes to Chemical Safety Reviews

The Environmental Protection Agency under the Trump administration has proposed a new rule that would significantly alter how some of the nation’s most toxic chemicals are evaluated for safety, according to reports from public health advocates and an EPA employee. The rule would affect substances including PFAS, formaldehyde, asbestos, and dioxins, which are known to pose serious health risks in consumer goods and workplaces.

HousingPolicy

Federal Housing Inspections in Crisis After Trump Administration Layoffs Leave Affordable Housing Vulnerable

The Trump administration’s elimination of HUD’s entire building inspection team during the government shutdown has left over 5 million affordable housing units without federal oversight. This comes as a Bronx public housing complex experienced a chimney collapse, highlighting growing concerns about deteriorating conditions in government-subsidized properties.

In a move that has housing advocates deeply concerned, the Trump administration laid off the entire team of federal building inspectors during the recent government shutdown, leaving millions of affordable housing units across the country without crucial safety oversight. The timing couldn’t be more alarming, coming just weeks after a gas explosion caused a chimney collapse at a public housing project in the Bronx, sending bricks and debris showering onto sidewalks as residents scrambled for safety.

The Immediate Impact: HUD’s Inspection Team Eliminated