POLITICS
WASHINGTON, D.C. — More than two years after a Norfolk Southern train derailment spilled toxic chemicals into the community of East Palestine, Ohio, Trump administration officials stressed long-term health and environmental monitoring remain a top priority.
The assertion comes even as President Donald Trump says he wants to cut the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s budget by 65% as part of his administration’s efforts to reduce the size of the federal government.
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EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said the agency could easily cut 65% of its budget—or more—and still meet its obligations to enforce environmental protection laws like the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Safe Drinking Water Act and Toxic Substances Control Act.
“We want to operate, and really any agency should be operating, as efficiently as we possibly can, filling all of our statutory obligations exceptionally,” he said.
Zeldin said any proposed cuts would not affect East Palestine operations. Much of the chemical clean-up has already been completed, including removal of 175,224 tons of contaminated soil and 74 million gallons of polluted surface water.
In addition, the EPA and Justice Department reached a $310 million settlement with Norfolk Southern that will pay for health monitoring for the surrounding communities and long-term environmental monitoring.
Some East Palestine residents, though, said they had concerns.
“With the political and governmental landscape right now, absolutely, I'm concerned that we're not going to get some of the funding or the attention that we really need to make sure that we're taken care of in the future,” said Misti Allison, who lives in East Palestine.
Allison added she did not trust Norfolk Southern to administer the long-term monitoring.
“That does lead to a lot of undue influence, which is terrifying for the community. So, for instance, Norfolk Southern has been able to put the plans in place for what the environmental cleanup should be, what that health care monitoring should be. And the last time I checked, Norfolk Southern is a transportation company. They are not health care providers. They are not environmental experts.”
Allison chairs the Community Advisory Board for the East Palestine Train Derailment Health Tracking Study, run by the University of Kentucky. It is currently the only program tracking health outcomes in East Palestine residents, though a bipartisan group of Ohio lawmakers this month introduced legislation to fund a similar study through 2029.
“What is a litmus test to determine that Norfolk Southern is going to be held accountable and that this community is going to be made whole again? We're still not really sure what that is. From my perspective, a lot more needs to be done from the health care front,” Allison said.
Allison said she was encouraged that officials are still talking about East Palestine, but wants legislation to ensure the long-term monitoring takes place and to prevent future train derailments.
Congress has still not passed any rail safety legislation since the derailment.
Vice President JD Vance’s Ohio roots could keep attention on East Palestine. One of Vance’s first acts in office was to visit the village on the second anniversary of the derailment.
EPA spokesperson Molly Vaseliou wrote in a statement,
“President Trump and EPA Administrator Zeldin are in lockstep in creating a more efficient and effective federal government. Compared to 2024, the total amount spent year over year at EPA will deliver significant efficiencies to American taxpayers by cutting wasteful grants, reassessing the agency’s real estate footprint, and delivering organizational improvements to the personnel structure. In his first term, President Trump advanced conservation and environmental stewardship while promoting economic growth for families across the country and will continue to do so this term.”