Trump EPA Proposal Lowballs Risk of Cancer-causing Formaldehyde

Statement from EDF SVP of Healthy Communities Sarah Vogel

(WASHINGTON – December 3, 2025) The Trump administration’s Environmental Protection Agency has proposed altering the way it assesses risk for cancer-causing formaldehyde, a move that would understate the health risks for workers and result in weaker protections against the toxic chemical.

“The Trump EPA is ignoring the best available science and downplaying the serious health risks from formaldehyde. It’s a move straight from the chemical industry playbook. With industry insiders at the helm of the Trump EPA, the chemical industry is getting what they’ve wanted: watered down protections against the most toxic chemicals. Lowballing the risks from formaldehyde will put more Americans at risk of developing cancer, asthma and other devastating health problems.”

  • Sarah Vogel, Senior Vice President, Healthy Communities

With more than 3 million members, Environmental Defense Fund creates transformational solutions to the most serious environmental problems. To do so, EDF links science, economics, law, and innovative private-sector partnerships to turn solutions into action. edf.org

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