EPA restructuring spurs questions on ‘forever chemicals' plans
But now, the agency is eliminating the stand-alone office charged with setting those standards crucial to protecting people from the toxic chemicals, known as PFAS.
As part of a sweeping reorganization plan announced late last week, EPA will cut the water program's Office of Science and Technology and disperse its staff among the other water teams.
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The agency said the reorganization will better align regulations and policies with their scientific foundations. But some former EPA officials and public health advocates say it raises questions about the Trump administration's pledge to control PFAS pollution.
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Axios
17 minutes ago
- Axios
EU trade deal with Trump helps Europe ditch Russian fuels
The new trade deal that President Trump unveiled with the European Union includes a European pledge to buy $750 billion worth of U.S. energy. Why it matters: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said it will help the bloc further wean itself off Russian gas. The $750 billion is spread across three years, she told reporters in Scotland on Sunday. The big picture:"We still have too much Russian LNG that is coming through the back door ... to our European Union," von der Leyen said, and also cited some continued oil shipments. "We want to absolutely get rid of Russian fossil fuels, and therefore it is much welcome to purchase the more affordable and better LNG from the United States," she said. EU pipeline imports of gas from Russia, once its dominant supplier, have fallen greatly. But imports of Russian LNG remain substantial. What we're watching: EU members' purchases of U.S. LNG and oil have risen sharply since Russia invaded Ukraine. And European energy companies have already been signing deals for future LNG volumes from U.S. projects that are planned or already under construction. The bottom line: Details are lacking. The big question is how much this increases purchases that would have occurred anyway. ClearView Energy Partners, in a note, said that even if the $250B annually includes existing U.S. energy exports to the EU of roughly $78B per year, it would still be a big jump. The total "would far outstrip" U.S. energy purchases in Trump's "phase one" deal with China, ClearView said.
NBC News
18 minutes ago
- NBC News
Trump strikes a deal with the E.U., and a bipartisan duo wants the Epstein files: Weekend Rundown
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Muhammad Arsalan, a 23-year-old crypto influencer from Pakistan, was forced to surrender $340,000 worth of tether when he was kidnapped and held at gunpoint in December. 'I had no options left. This is my whole life savings. This is all my life's money,' Arsalan said. Food manufacturers across the U.S., big and small, are facing hurdles as they seek to phase out synthetic food dyes. Kraft Heinz, Nestle, General Mills and major ice cream makers have all recently vowed to shift to natural coloring amid the Trump administration's push to eliminate artificial dyes from the country's food supply, as well as a broader movement by states to ban them because of safety concerns. The transition presents challenges for food companies in developing reliable, cost-effective natural dyes, which are generally more expensive and difficult to make, requiring higher concentrations to achieve the same hue. The shift has also raised questions about the long-term impact of natural dyes on consumers' health. The Texas-based Atkinson Candy Company, which makes the Chick-O-Stick candy bar, is among smaller manufacturers struggling to maintain a distinctive hue while phasing out synthetic food dyes. 'They say in the industry that taste is king, but color is queen,' CEO Eric Atkinson explained. 'The queen is very important.' Notable quote The former senior CIA officer who helped oversee the intelligence assessment on Russia's interference in the 2016 election told NBC News that Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and the White House are 'lying' when they claim that it was an attempt to sabotage Trump. In case you missed it Michigan officials are seeking a terrorism charge in addition to 11 counts of assault with intent to murder against a man who allegedly stabbed nearly a dozen people at a Walmart in what they described as a seemingly random attack. 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Bloomberg
18 minutes ago
- Bloomberg
Australia Signs Defense Pact With UK
Happy Monday, it's Carmeli in Sydney here to bring you all the latest news to start your week. Today's must-reads: • Australia and the UK sign submarine pact • Australia strengthens India trade • EU wins lowered 15% tariff rate from US Australia and the UK signed a landmark 50-year defense treaty on Saturday to underpin the construction of nuclear-powered submarines, senior ministers from both nations said. Both sides stressed that the treaty doesn't impact the Aukus security partnership between Australia, the UK and the US — currently under review by the Trump administration.
