Federal Independent Agencies
Here's a look at documents from federal independent agencies
Featured Stories
SBA Announces Dates for National Small Business Week 2026 Virtual Summit
WASHINGTON, April 7 -- The Small Business Administration issued the following news release on April 6, 2026:
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SBA Announces Dates for National Small Business Week 2026 Virtual Summit
Free online summit May 5-6 offers educational workshops, networking, and information on federal resources
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Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration and America's Small Business Development Center (SBDC) announced the dates for the National Small Business Week 2026 Virtual Summit. The free online summit, cosponsored by America's SBDC, will take place on May 5 and 6 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET and registration
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WASHINGTON, April 7 -- The Small Business Administration issued the following news release on April 6, 2026:
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SBA Announces Dates for National Small Business Week 2026 Virtual Summit
Free online summit May 5-6 offers educational workshops, networking, and information on federal resources
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Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration and America's Small Business Development Center (SBDC) announced the dates for the National Small Business Week 2026 Virtual Summit. The free online summit, cosponsored by America's SBDC, will take place on May 5 and 6 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET and registrationis required: https://www.cntvhybrid.com/nsbw2026.
"We are excited to cohost the 2026 National Small Business Week Virtual Summit to offer small businesses information to help them take advantage of President Trump's America First economic agenda and the SBA's modernized capital access programs," said SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler. "Through tax cuts, deregulation, and fair trade, Main Street is positioned for another record year in 2026 - and the SBA will continue to support their comeback with training, capital, and contracting to empower the local businesses who serve as the backbone of communities across America."
"Small businesses are the foundation of our local and national economies, and the expert advisors in our network are committed to supporting their success," said Charles "Tee" Rowe, President & CEO, America's SBDC. "We are honored to co-host this year's Virtual Summit, ensuring that practical, no-cost resources and mentorship are accessible nationwide."
The Virtual Summit will feature educational workshops presented by cosponsors, information about accessing federal resources, as well as networking and mentorship opportunities. Participants will learn about topics varying from manufacturing, digital marketing, human resources (HR), artificial intelligence (AI), business planning, and online business resources.
The National Small Business Week virtual summit is part of SBA's broader annual program, where an in-person National Awards Ceremony will take place on Sunday, May 3 in Washington, D.C. That week, Administrator Loeffler will conduct a nationwide roadshow to highlight exceptional job creators across Michigan, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Georgia.
Details on National Small Business Week, the award winners, and the virtual summit are featured on www.sba.gov/NSBW and will be updated as additional information and activities are confirmed. Local events will be featured on www.sba.gov/events and by searching #SmallBusinessWeek in the search bar.
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About the ASBDC:
America's SBDC (Small Business Development Center) Network is a partnership uniting private enterprises, government, higher education, and local nonprofit economic development organizations. SBDCs are the Small Business Administration's most extensive partnership program, providing management and technical assistance to help Americans start, run, and grow their businesses. Learn more at www.americassbdc.org.
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About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of entrepreneurship. As the leading voice for small businesses within the federal government, the SBA empowers job creators with the resources and support they need to start, grow, and expand their businesses or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.
Cosponsorship Authorization #26-1-C. SBA's participation in this Cosponsored Activity is not an endorsement of the views, opinions, products or services of any Cosponsor or other person or entity. All SBA programs and services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis.
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Original text here: https://www.sba.gov/article/2026/04/06/sba-announces-dates-national-small-business-week-2026-virtual-summit
IDB Approves $80 Million Loan to Support Infrastructure Rebuilding and MSME Recovery in Brazil's Rio Grande Do Sul
WASHINGTON, April 7 -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following news release:
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IDB Approves $80 Million Loan to Support Infrastructure Rebuilding and MSME Recovery in Brazil's Rio Grande do Sul
The Board of Executive Directors of the Inter American Development Bank (IDB) has approved an $80 million investment loan to Banco Regional de Desenvolvimento do Extremo Sul (BRDE) to support the financing of critical infrastructure and the recovery of micro, small, and medium sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Brazil's Rio Grande do Sul State.
The project, Prosul Reergue Sul, is expected
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WASHINGTON, April 7 -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following news release:
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IDB Approves $80 Million Loan to Support Infrastructure Rebuilding and MSME Recovery in Brazil's Rio Grande do Sul
The Board of Executive Directors of the Inter American Development Bank (IDB) has approved an $80 million investment loan to Banco Regional de Desenvolvimento do Extremo Sul (BRDE) to support the financing of critical infrastructure and the recovery of micro, small, and medium sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Brazil's Rio Grande do Sul State.
The project, Prosul Reergue Sul, is expectedto promote investments by easing credit constraints. It will enable construction and strengthen the resilience to withstand future natural disasters and support the recovery of MSMEs' production of goods and services in areas affected by flooding in 2024. Up to 7% of MSME financing is expected to be directed to women-led businesses.
Direct beneficiaries of the program will include developers of small-scale critical infrastructure projects in the transportation, energy, and water sectors, as well as MSMEs with annual revenues of up to R$300 million that have been directly or indirectly affected by extreme weather events in the state.
The broader population of Rio Grande do Sul is also expected to benefit indirectly, as new investments enhance resilience, boost productivity, and support employment generation.
The IDB loan has a maturity of 25 years, including a grace period of 5.5 years, and carries an interest rate based on the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR). Following approval by the IDB's Board of Executive Directors, the operation is subject to the procedures established under national legislation prior to signature and implementation.
This approval is part of a broader package of actions launched by the IDB to the state of Rio Grande do Sul following the 2024 floods. In the immediate aftermath, the IDB mobilized emergency resources and donations, as well as technical experts to assess the losses and damage caused by the disaster. Through this initiative, the IDB is supporting resilience and the state's medium and long term recovery.
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About the IDB
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), a member of the IDB Group, is devoted to improving lives across Latin America and the Caribbean. Founded in 1959, the Bank works with the region's public sector to design and enable impactful, innovative solutions for sustainable and inclusive development. Leveraging financing, technical expertise, and knowledge, it promotes growth and well-being in 26 countries. Visit our website: https://www.iadb.org/en.
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Original text here: https://www.iadb.org/en/news/idb-approves-80-million-loan-support-infrastructure-rebuilding-and-msme-recovery-brazils-rio-grande
Dear America Draws From the National Gallery of Art's Collection to Highlight Artists' Interpretations of the American Experience
WASHINGTON, April 7 -- The National Gallery of Art issued the following news release:
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Dear America Draws From the National Gallery of Art's Collection to Highlight Artists' Interpretations of the American Experience
Exhibition presents works by Ansel Adams, Ruth Asawa, Thomas Moran, Gordon Parks, Paul Revere, Carrie Mae Weems, and more as part of America's 250th anniversary commemoration
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As part of its yearlong commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026, the National Gallery of Art presents Dear America: Artists Explore the American Experience, an exhibition
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WASHINGTON, April 7 -- The National Gallery of Art issued the following news release:
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Dear America Draws From the National Gallery of Art's Collection to Highlight Artists' Interpretations of the American Experience
Exhibition presents works by Ansel Adams, Ruth Asawa, Thomas Moran, Gordon Parks, Paul Revere, Carrie Mae Weems, and more as part of America's 250th anniversary commemoration
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As part of its yearlong commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026, the National Gallery of Art presents Dear America: Artists Explore the American Experience, an exhibitionexamining how artists have portrayed and interpreted key aspects of American culture over the last 250 years. Comprising more than 100 works from the late 18th century to the present--including many recent acquisitions and works that have never been on view at the National Gallery before--the exhibition highlights artists' wide-ranging depictions of American experience across time and place and is framed by the themes of land, community, and freedom. Dear America: Artists Explore the American Experience will be on view in the West Building from April 11 to September 20, 2026.
Drawn primarily from the National Gallery's leading collection of American art, Dear America brings together works on paper by 95 artists. Among the objects on view are photographs by Ansel Adams, Richard Avedon, Margaret Bourke-White, LaToya Ruby Frazier, Tom Jones (Ho-Chunk Nation), Sally Mann, Timothy H. O'Sullivan, Gordon Parks, Alfred Stieglitz, James Van Der Zee, Carleton E. Watkins, and Carrie Mae Weems; drawings by Thomas Moran, Tonita Pena, Eunice Pinney, and John Wilson; artists' books by Dindga McCannon and Kara Walker; and prints by Emma Amos, Ruth Asawa, Charles Gaines, Jane Hammond, Roy Lichtenstein, Marisol, Robert Rauschenberg, Ed Ruscha, Fritz Scholder, and Juan Sanchez.
"Artists have long helped us see America not just as a place, but as a living idea shaped by many voices," said Kaywin Feldman, director of the National Gallery of Art. "Through these remarkable works from the National Gallery's collection, visitors to the nation's art museum can witness the power of art to illuminate our shared past, illustrate the experiences of our lives, and inspire our collective future."
"Showcasing exemplary prints, drawings, and photographs made in the last 250 years, this exhibition is a testament to collaboration across curatorial disciplines as well as the strength of our permanent collection," said E. Carmen Ramos, the National Gallery's chief curatorial and conservation officer. "Dear America reveals the wide range of subjects, approaches, and techniques through which America's artists have sought to interpret their own and others' experiences."
About the Exhibition
Comprising works that span the breadth of US history and geography, from the nation's founding through the present, Dear America seeks to explore how artists have considered the question of what is, has been, and could be the nature of the American experience. The exhibition is organized in three thematic sections: Land, Community, and Freedom, each highlighting artists' expansive interpretations of American culture and iconography.
The first section, Land, explores our collective understanding of America as a place and as a site of wonder and belonging, survival and memory. Works from the 19th century by Thomas Moran, Frances Flora Bond Palmer, William H. Rau, and Carleton E. Watkins capture the variety of natural geographies across the North American continent and the early stages of the expansion of railways and settlements from east to west. Examples by 20th- and 21st-century artists, such as Bernarda Bryson, Leo Limon, Richard Misrach, and Margaret Bourke-White, address the impact of the growing populace, human-built environments, and major cities that comprise America today. This section shows how artists have drawn inspiration from the grandeur of the country's mountain ranges and canyons, as well as from roadside gas stations, hydroelectric dams, and skyscrapers.
The second section, Community, begins with four large multipart works that fill an entire gallery. Dear America (2002), composed of 16 photographs by contemporary artist Tom Jones (Ho-Chunk Nation), was the inspiration for the title of the exhibition. In this suite, Jones combined scans of historical postcards with lyrics from the song "My Country, 'Tis of Thee" to incorporate Native American experiences into narratives of American history. Also featured is a set of life-size figure drawings for John Wilson's unrealized mural Young Americans (1973-1975). These drawings depict the artist's teenage children and their friends, who hung out at the Wilson home in the 1970s. Their youthful potential represented a hopeful vision of the future to the artist. Nearby is a group of some 30 portraits from a suite of 101 offset lithographs by Sedrick E. Huckaby that are based on sketches he created while he interviewed people living and working in his community. The largest multipart work in this section is Richard Avedon's The Family (1976), a series of 69 photographs. Made during the Bicentennial, they depict America's power elite--politicians, media moguls, financiers, and activists. These works and others by artists such as Charles Milton Bell, LaToya Ruby Frazier, Michael Jang, Cesar A. Martinez, and Cara Romero highlight artists' portrayals of the many types of communities that have shaped the American experience, from politicians and prominent public servants, to friends and family members, neighborhoods, and religious and cultural gatherings.
The exhibition concludes with the section Freedom, weaving histories of revolution and liberation with deeply personal snapshots of American life. The works included here serve as both witnesses to the moments they portray and catalysts to connect us to our own sense of freedom. This section explores artists' considerations of the freedoms envisioned by the founders of the United States as well as by later generations who have continually sought to protect fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution and promote greater freedom for all people. Featured are scenes from the American Revolution and Civil War, including Paul Revere's famous print depicting the Boston Massacre of 1770, an event that was prompted by escalating tensions between the American colonists and Great Britain. Also on view are historical portraits of figures like Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth, and George Washington, all of whom advocated for freedom, while portraits of soldiers by artists such as Maya Freelon and James Van Der Zee remind us of the cost of defending that freedom. Other photographs by Lewis Wickes Hine and Alfred Stieglitz capture the early 20th-century mass movement of people who were fleeing oppression and seeking new opportunities. And Faith Ringgold's screenprints of events from the civil rights movement that accompany Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous "Letter from Birmingham City Jail" and Robert Indiana's boldly colored screenprint Liberty '76 (1974-1975), made for the occasion of the country's 200th anniversary, document and celebrate the continual pursuit of freedom that is fundamental to our democracy.
Exhibition Organization and Support
The exhibition is organized by the National Gallery of Art, Washington.
Leadership support for the exhibition has been generously provided by the Eugene V. and Clare E. Thaw Charitable Trust.
The exhibition is made possible through support from Daniel W. Hamilton and the Edwin L. Cox Exhibition Fund.
Exhibition Curators
The exhibition is curated by Angelica Becerra, Andrew W. Mellon Postdoctoral Curatorial Fellow; Sarah Greenough, senior curator and head of the department of photographs (retired); Rena Hoisington, curator and head of Old Master prints; and Shelley Langdale, curator and head of modern prints and drawings, all at the National Gallery of Art.
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About the National Gallery of Art
The National Gallery of Art welcomes all people to explore art, creativity, and our shared humanity. Millions of people come through its doors each year--with even more online--making it one of the most visited art museums in the world. The National Gallery's renowned collection includes over 160,000 works of art, from the ancient world to today. Admission to the West and East Buildings, Sculpture Garden, special exhibitions, and public programs is always free.
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Original text here: https://www.nga.gov/press/dear-america-draws-national-gallery-arts-collection-highlight-artists-interpretations-american
New Daily Pacific Surfliner Train Connects Los Angeles and San Luis Obispo
WASHINGTON, April 6 -- Amtrak (National Railroad Passenger Corp.) issued the following news:
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New Daily Pacific Surfliner Train Connects Los Angeles and San Luis Obispo
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LOSSAN Rail Corridor Agency, Santa Barbara County Association of Governments, and Ventura County Transportation Commission are collaborating to expand service and improve regional mobility starting Monday, May 4, 2026.
ORANGE, Calif. - The LOSSAN Rail Corridor Agency, in partnership with the Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC) and the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG), today announced
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WASHINGTON, April 6 -- Amtrak (National Railroad Passenger Corp.) issued the following news:
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New Daily Pacific Surfliner Train Connects Los Angeles and San Luis Obispo
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LOSSAN Rail Corridor Agency, Santa Barbara County Association of Governments, and Ventura County Transportation Commission are collaborating to expand service and improve regional mobility starting Monday, May 4, 2026.
ORANGE, Calif. - The LOSSAN Rail Corridor Agency, in partnership with the Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC) and the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG), today announcedthe launch of a new daily Pacific Surfliner roundtrip between Los Angeles and San Luis Obispo, expanding travel and commuter options for riders along California's Central Coast.
The service expansion, which begins May 4, 2026, increases Pacific Surfliner frequencies to six daily trips to Goleta and three daily trips to San Luis Obispo, improving weekday commuter flexibility and regional connectivity between Los Angeles, Ventura County, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo.
The additional roundtrip improves schedule availability during peak weekday rush hour periods while offering riders a comfortable alternative to driving.
"Expanding Pacific Surfliner service helps strengthen regional mobility and provides travelers with more convenient options along the Central Coast," said Jason Jewell, Managing Director of the LOSSAN Rail Corridor Agency. "This new roundtrip improves connectivity across the corridor and offers riders a comfortable alternative to driving."
For Ventura County residents and commuters, the expanded service provides additional travel flexibility between Ventura County and destinations throughout the corridor.
"This new roundtrip strengthens Ventura County's connection to the broader Southern California rail network," said Martin Erickson, Executive Director of the Ventura County Transportation Commission. "By providing more travel options during busy weekday travel periods, we're making it easier for residents and workers to move throughout the region."
Santa Barbara County leaders also highlighted how the expanded service demonstrates investment in regional transportation and delivers on the voter-approved Measure A, a half-cent sales tax for transportation in Santa Barbara County.
"More rail service means more flexibility for how people move through our region," said Marjie KIRN, SBCAG Executive Director. "With Measure A support, we're delivering on what voters asked for-more options for commuting, school, and everyday travel."
SBCAG is hosting an employers forum event on April 22, 2026 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Goleta and informing local employers how to promote jobs and commuting options in the area.
The Pacific Surfliner service operates along a 351-mile coastal corridor connecting San Diego County, Orange County, Los Angeles, Ventura County, Santa Barbara County, and San Luis Obispo County. The service offers amenities including comfortable seating, power outlets, and scenic coastal views. Perhaps the most appreciated amenity, free onboard Wi-Fi, gives riders the opportunity to work or study while en route to the office or class, maximizing travel time.
With the new roundtrip, travelers will benefit from expanded schedule options for a variety of trips, including weekday commuting, business travel, university travel, and leisure trips along California's coast.
Riders can view updated schedules and plan their trips at www.pacificsurfliner.com/goSLO
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Original text here: https://media.amtrak.com/2026/04/new-daily-pacific-surfliner-train-connects-los-angeles-and-san-luis-obispo/
ICYMI: EPA Takes Bold, Historic MAHA Action on Microplastics, Pharmaceuticals, and Potential Hidden Contaminants
WASHINGTON, April 6 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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ICYMI: EPA Takes Bold, Historic MAHA Action on Microplastics, Pharmaceuticals, and Potential Hidden Contaminants
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WASHINGTON - On Thursday, April 2, 2026, alongside U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert Robert F. Kennedy Jr., U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced landmark, coordinated actions to address microplastics contamination, one of the most urgent and growing public health challenges facing Americans. For the first
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WASHINGTON, April 6 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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ICYMI: EPA Takes Bold, Historic MAHA Action on Microplastics, Pharmaceuticals, and Potential Hidden Contaminants
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WASHINGTON - On Thursday, April 2, 2026, alongside U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert Robert F. Kennedy Jr., U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced landmark, coordinated actions to address microplastics contamination, one of the most urgent and growing public health challenges facing Americans. For the firsttime in agency history, EPA is including microplastics as a priority contaminant group in its draft Sixth Contaminant Candidate List (CCL 6), and is now holding a public comment period on it.
CCL 6 also includes pharmaceuticals as a group-another first-along with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), disinfection byproducts, 75 individual chemicals, and nine microbes that may be present in public drinking water systems. Thursday's announcement, made at a press conference at EPA headquarters, represent a major step forward in President Trump's commitment to Make America Healthy Again.
Read coverage below on the Trump EPA's commitment to clean and safe drinking water for all Americans.
Fox News: RFK Jr, EPA Chief 'Declare War' on Microplastics Amid Growing Evidence of Health Risks Exit EPA's website
"Health and Human Services Secretary RFK Jr. and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin are declaring a war on microplastics. These tiny bits of plastic, which are less than 5 mm in size, can persist in our environment for hundreds or thousands of years. They may also build up in our bodies, our hearts and our brains, causing untold damage. For the first time, the EPA is adding microplastics and pharmaceuticals to its Contaminant Candidate List for drinking water, which will help to prioritize funding and pave the way for potential future regulation involving Congress."
Daily Wire: Trump Admin Announces Major Steps Countering Big Pharma And Microplastics Exit EPA's website
"The Trump administration is moving to more closely track and study microplastics and pharmaceuticals in Americans' drinking water, marking the first time federal regulators have formally flagged them as potential contaminants. The EPA's decision to include microplastics on its draft Contaminant Candidate List 'does not constitute regulation, but signals that a substance warrants serious scientific attention and may be considered for future regulatory action,' the agency told The Daily Wire."
Daily Caller: Trump Admin Declares War On Microplastics In Drinking Water Exit EPA's website
"The Trump administration announced Wednesday that it would seek to remove microplastics and pharmaceuticals from drinking water as part of its effort to improve water standards. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin, along with Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert Kennedy, unveiled the Sixth Contaminant Candidate List, which identifies substances that may require regulation under the Safe Drinking Water Act. The move is in tandem with the announcement of the Systematic Targeting Of MicroPlastics (STOMP) program, which aims to crack down on microplastics and pharmaceutical drugs found in drinking water."
Associated Press: EPA Moves to Designate Microplastics and Pharmaceuticals as Contaminants in Drinking Water Exit EPA's website
"The Environmental Protection Agency proposed Thursday to include microplastics and pharmaceuticals on a list of contaminants in drinking water for the first time, a step that could lead to new limits on those substances for water utilities. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said they are responding to Americans who have worried about plastics and pharmaceuticals in their drinking water. The gesture also aims to hand a win to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s MAHA movement..."
Wall Street Journal: EPA Wants to Prioritize Microplastics, Pharmaceuticals as Water Contaminants Exit EPA's website
"The Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday said it has started a process that could lead to restrictions on microplastics and pharmaceuticals in drinking water down the road. The EPA proposed adding microplastics, certain pharmaceuticals and other contaminants to a watchlist. The agency aligned the move with the Make America Healthy Again movement... EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said the move sends 'a clear message: we will follow the science, we will pursue answers, and we will hold ourselves to the highest standards to protect the health of every American family."'
The Hill: EPA Proposes Studying Microplastics for Potential Drinking Water Limits Exit EPA's website
"The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plans to propose to study microplastics and pharmaceuticals in what could be the first step toward drinking water limits for these substances... 'By placing microplastics and pharmaceuticals on the Contaminant Candidate List for the first time ever, EPA is sending a clear message: we will follow the science, we will pursue answers, and we will hold ourselves to the highest standards to protect the health of every American family,' he added."
Food Safety Magazine: EPA Addresses Microplastics, PFAS in Drinking Water; HHS to Study Microplastics in Humans Exit EPA's website
"... Announced on April 2, EPA is including four contaminant groups in CCL 6-microplastics, pharmaceuticals, PFAS, and disinfection byproducts-as well as an additional 75 chemicals and nine microbes that may be found in drinking water. For the first time, EPA is designating both microplastics and pharmaceuticals as priority contaminant groups in the CCL."
E&E News: EPA Eyes Tracking Microplastics, Medicines in Tap Water Exit EPA's website
"EPA is taking an initial step toward regulating microplastics and pharmaceuticals in tap water, in a procedural move the Trump administration touted as a win for the 'Make America Healthy Again movement.' The agency on Thursday announced a new draft list of potential contaminants in tap water, the first of many steps under the Safe Drinking Water Act before legal limits can be established. The list includes microplastics and pharmaceuticals for the first time but does not require water utilities to take immediate action."
E&E News: Zeldin, RFK Jr. unveil plans targeting microplastics Exit EPA's website
"The Trump administration has pledged to address research gaps on health effects and prevalence of microplastics, an issue officials have pushed as critical to Make America Healthy Again goals...EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin also announced plans to add microplastics, as well as certain pharmaceuticals and additional 'forever chemicals,' to its list of potential contaminants in drinking water. Officials described it as a first step toward more research and funding for those substances, although it's no guarantee that they will be regulated."
NPR: EPA Flags Microplastics, Pharmaceuticals as Contaminants in Drinking Water Exit EPA's website
"Responding to public health concerns about microplastics and pharmaceuticals in the nation's drinking water, the Trump administration for the first time has placed them on a draft list of contaminants maintained by the Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA announced the move Thursday, touting it as a 'historic step' for the Make America Healthy Again, or MAHA, movement, which often raises concerns about toxic chemicals and plastic pollution in our food and environment."
NBC: EPA Takes First Step to Regulate Microplastics in Drinking Water Exit EPA's website
"...For the first time, the Environmental Protection Agency is adding these microplastics to a list of drinking water contaminants the agency is considering for future regulation. 'For too long, Americans have been ignored as they sound the alarm about plastics in their drinking water. That ends today,' EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said Thursday at a news conference. The EPA, which is required to publish the contaminant list every five years, released a draft of the sixth installment Thursday."
The New York Times: E.P.A. Targets Microplastics and Drugs in Drinking Water Exit EPA's website
"The Trump administration on Thursday said the federal government would try to curb levels of microplastics and pharmaceuticals in the drinking water of hundreds of millions of Americans. Supporters of the Make America Healthy Again movement led by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., welcomed the announcement. Mr. Kennedy joined Mr. Zeldin at the news conference at the E.P.A.'s headquarters in Washington."
NewsNation: EPA to Monitor Drinking Water for Microplastics, Pharmaceuticals Exit EPA's website
"The Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Health and Human Services announced Thursday they will monitor the impact of microplastics and pharmaceuticals on drinking water. The administration is touting the proposal as a win for the 'Make America Healthy Again' movement. The EPA will add these substances and others, including 'forever chemicals,' to a draft of its 'Sixth Contaminant Candidate List,' which puts the chemicals on track for potential regulation under the Safe Drinking Water Act."
Los Angeles Times: Microplastics and Pharmaceuticals Designated as a Priority Threat in Drinking Water by Health, Environment Officials Exit EPA's website
"Zeldin said the environmental agency will add microplastics and pharmaceuticals to its list of concerning chemicals in drinking water. 'For the first time in the program's history, EPA is designating both microplastics and pharmaceuticals as priority contaminant groups,' he said. The two Cabinet members sat a table before a crowded room at EPA headquarters in Washington, together with microplastic researchers..."
Reuters: US Agencies to Monitor Drinking Water for Microplastics, Pharmaceuticals Exit EPA's website
".. The joint announcement was hailed by EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. as a win for President Donald Trump's 'Make America Healthy Again' agenda, whose priorities have included reducing the number of recommended childhood vaccines and promoting whole foods in new dietary guidelines. The EPA will now include microplastics and pharmaceuticals on the sixth Contaminant Candidate List, which would mean they would start being tested and monitored under the Safe Drinking Water Act and receive funding for research, a precursor to future regulation if they are determined to threaten public water systems."
Plastic News: EPA, HHS Label Microplastics as Potential Drinking Water Pollutant, Launch $144M Study Exit EPA's website
"President Donald Trump's administration took aim at microplastics April 2, announcing that it was for the first time listing them as potential contaminants in drinking water and unveiling a $144 million research initiative to look at human health risks."
KHQ NBC: EPA Draft Adds Microplastics and Pharmaceuticals to Drinking Water List Exit EPA's website
"... EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said the agency responded to concerns Americans had raised about their drinking water. The EPA's Contaminant Candidate List identified substances in drinking water that were not regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act. The agency published a draft of a new version of that list and said it expected to finalize it by mid-November."
Scientific American: RFK, Jr., and EPA Announce Plan to Track Microplastics in Tap Water and Humans Exit EPA's website
"The Trump administration is going after microplastics in drinking water. A new plan to study and regulate plastic pollution was announced on Thursday by Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and Environmental Protection Agency head Lee Zeldin. The policy is aimed at addressing the growing concern over microplastics in tap water and their effect on health more generally."
NOTUS: EPA Heeds MAHA's Call to Classify Microplastics, Antidepressants as Drinking Water Contaminants Exit EPA's website
"... Lee Zeldin, the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, announced Thursday that the agency would classify microplastics, 'forever chemicals,' disinfection byproducts and drugs like antidepressants and antibiotics as drinking water contaminants. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. also announced that the Department of Health and Human Services would invest $144 million into studying the potential health risks of microplastics."
WHYY: Trump administration proposes new research for microplastics, pharmaceuticals in drinking water Exit EPA's website
"President Donald Trump's administration announced Thursday it wants to fund research on microplastics and pharmaceuticals in public drinking water and examine their potential health impacts. The proposal could help environmental regulators create future drinking water restrictions. The federal government also announced a $144 million program to measure, research and remove microplastics from the human body as part of the administration's Make America Healthy Again initiative. The program will prioritize pregnant people, children, patients with chronic conditions and workers in high-exposure environments."
Chemical and Engineering News: US government targets microplastics for research and potential drinking-water regulation Exit EPA's website
"The federal Safe Drinking Water Act requires the EPA every 5 years to survey unregulated contaminants in the country's drinking-water supply and select candidates for regulation. The draft list, once finalized, will become the sixth Contaminant Candidate List (CCL) so far. It also includes per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and disinfection by-products, as well as 75 individual chemicals and nine microbes, many of which are carried over from past iterations of the list."
CSPAN: HHS Secy. Kennedy & EPA Admin. Zeldin Make Announcement on Microplastics Exit EPA's website
"Health & Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin announced an initiative targeting microplastics in drinking water and the environment during an event at EPA headquarters in Washington, DC... Secretary Kennedy said they are 'focusing on three questions - what is in the body, what's causing harm, and how do we remove it.' Additionally, Secretary Zeldin said the EPA is 'designating both microplastics and pharmaceuticals as priority contaminant groups.'"
Waste Dive: EPA proposes adding microplastics to list of drinking water contaminants Exit EPA's website
"... Though some of these substances, namely certain PFAS, have been on previous iterations of the CCL, it's the first time microplastics and pharmaceuticals are listed as 'priority contaminant groups.' That's driven in part by public concerns over the health impacts, said EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin. Adding substances to the CCL may guide EPA's funding and research priorities, giving industries insight into how future regulations could form... EPA and HHS see these concurrent actions as the 'most comprehensive federal effort to date to understand and combat the risks posed by microplastics to public health."'
Civil Eats: EPA and HHS Announce New Efforts to Target Microplastics Exit EPA's website
"Judith Enck, the president of Beyond Plastics, called the move an 'important first step.' 'I applaud this decision by the EPA and urge the agency to move rapidly to not only regulate microplastics in drinking water but to also prevent microplastics from entering our water supplies,' she said in a statement."
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Original text here: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/icymi-epa-takes-bold-historic-maha-action-microplastics-pharmaceuticals-and-potential
EPA seeks public input on proposed cleanup plan for Orlando Gasification Superfund Site
WASHINGTON, April 6 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA seeks public input on proposed cleanup plan for Orlando Gasification Superfund Site
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ORLANDO, Florida (April 6, 2026) - EPA will hold a public comment period April 7 through May 6 to receive input on a proposed plan for the Orlando Gasification Plant Superfund Site. EPA will also hold a public meeting on April 14 to present the proposed cleanup plan, answer questions and receive comments.
This cleanup involves water in the deep aquifer contaminated with benzene and other volatile organic
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, April 6 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA seeks public input on proposed cleanup plan for Orlando Gasification Superfund Site
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ORLANDO, Florida (April 6, 2026) - EPA will hold a public comment period April 7 through May 6 to receive input on a proposed plan for the Orlando Gasification Plant Superfund Site. EPA will also hold a public meeting on April 14 to present the proposed cleanup plan, answer questions and receive comments.
This cleanup involves water in the deep aquifer contaminated with benzene and other volatile organiccompounds (VOCs).
WHEN:
Tuesday, April 14, 2026
6 - 8 p.m. ET
WHERE:
Callahan Neighborhood Center
101 N. Parramore Ave. #1713
Orlando, FL 32801
The proposed plan and other site-related documents are available here.
To submit a written comment during the 30-day public comment period from April 7 through May 6, include "Orlando Gasification Plant Proposed Plan" in the title and send via email to Peter Thorpe, EPA Remedial Project Manager, at thorpe.peter@epa.gov. Or send via postal mail to: US EPA Region 4, Attn: Peter Thorpe, 61 Forsyth Street, SW, Atlanta, GA 30303-3104. All comments must be postmarked by May 6, 2026.
Background:
Orlando Gasification Plant, a manufactured gas facility, operated in Orlando until the early 1960s. After demolition, the site was redeveloped and now includes commercial businesses and a natural gas company. EPA divided the site into two sections, called Operation Units (OU). EPA issued a Record of Decision (ROD) for OU1 in 2013. The soil cleanup was completed in 2018. A groundwater treatment system for OU1 began in 2020 and is ongoing. OU2 addresses contamination in the deep aquifer beneath the site, encompassing portions of the upper Ocala Limestone formation approximately 60 and 310 feet below land surface.
Throughout the cleanup process, EPA has kept the public informed and incorporated public input in proposed cleanup activities.
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Original text here: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-seeks-public-input-proposed-cleanup-plan-orlando-gasification-superfund-site
EPA Continues to Unleash Domestic Energy with Revisions to Burdensome, Unworkable Biden-era Oil and Natural Gas Regulations, Saving Americans Billions in Energy Costs
WASHINGTON, April 6 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA Continues to Unleash Domestic Energy with Revisions to Burdensome, Unworkable Biden-era Oil and Natural Gas Regulations, Saving Americans Billions in Energy Costs
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Final rule to save $2.5 billion while producing cleanest energy in the world
WASHINGTON - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin took another step in unleashing domestic energy and revising burdensome, unworkable Biden-era oil and natural gas policies. Today, EPA finalized revisions to certain aspects
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, April 6 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA Continues to Unleash Domestic Energy with Revisions to Burdensome, Unworkable Biden-era Oil and Natural Gas Regulations, Saving Americans Billions in Energy Costs
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Final rule to save $2.5 billion while producing cleanest energy in the world
WASHINGTON - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin took another step in unleashing domestic energy and revising burdensome, unworkable Biden-era oil and natural gas policies. Today, EPA finalized revisions to certain aspectsof the Biden-Harris Administration's 2024 Clean Air Act rules for oil and natural gas, commonly known as OOOOb/c. These changes will help ensure that American energy owners and operators have the flexibility needed to continue producing the cleanest energy in the world without having to worry about being punished by radical climate ideologies. The agency's final rule, which is part of a series of actions the Trump EPA is taking on Biden-era oil and natural gas regulations, is estimated to save $2.5 billion over 15 years, equivalent to $208 million annually in industry compliance costs. These cost savings will help lower gasoline and energy costs across the board and benefit American families.
"My predecessors weaponized environmental regulations to regulate the oil and gas industry out of existence. We are taking another step to fix those mistakes while proving we can both protect human health and the environment and grow the economy at the same time. Making rules workable for owners and operators advances American energy dominance, lowers cost for American families, and ensures the United States is providing better and cleaner energy," said EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin.
The final rule responds to several petitions for reconsideration, feedback from industry-including from a 45-day public comment period-and additional data EPA received after the 2024 Final Rule was issued. The 2024 Final Rule phases out routine flaring of associated natural gas from new sources, but allowed owners and operators to perform temporary flaring for up to 24 hours in maintenance situations. However, serious concerns were raised that this limited time frame did not provide enough time for owners and operators to troubleshoot and repair equipment, putting energy reliability for American families and the safety of workers at risk. Under the Trump EPA's revisions, owners and operators will now be able to utilize temporary flaring for up to 72 hours. During exigent circumstances where site access is limited due to extreme inclement weather, temporary personnel shortage, or supply chain issues due to circumstances outside the owner or operator's control, the final rule provides additional time beyond the 72 hours. Owners and operators will be required to keep records and report when such situations occur.
The Biden EPA's final rule also required continuous monitoring of the net heating value (NHV) of vent gas from flares and enclosed combustion devices (ECD). Based on data that has come to light since 2024, today's action adjusts the NHV monitoring and testing provisions so that owners and operators do not need to perform NHV sampling from flares or ECD, except where inert gases or other miscellaneous scenarios are present. The final rule also removes the general exemption from NHV monitoring for associated gas for any control device used at well sites affected facilities. These changes will reduce the number of unnecessary tests by up to 141,000 per year-about 1.9 million over 15 years. The agency does not expect any emissions changes as a result of the final revisions to the NHV compliance demonstration requirements.
The Trump EPA understands we can both protect human health and the environment and grow the economy at the same time. Today's final revisions to unleash American energy build upon the actions taken by the agency in 2025 that already delivered $750 million in savings, to provide additional time for sources to comply with certain provisions in the burdensome OOOOb/c Biden-era regulations. This is a stark contrast to the Biden EPA, which estimated its oil and natural gas regulations would cost over $18 billion and raise natural gas prices for Americans. EPA is currently developing another proposal to further amend the 2024 Final Rule to address additional issues raised by stakeholders that will further drive down the cost of living for all Americans. The agency will continue to provide relief and bring commonsense back to oil and natural gas rulemaking.
Read the 2026 Final Rule to Reduce Burden on the Oil and Natural Gas Industry Exit EPA's website for more information.
Background
Today's revisions apply to the March 8, 2024, Biden regulations for oil and natural gas operations under sections 111(b) and 111(d) of the Clean Air Act.
On March 12, 2025, Administrator Zeldin announced a comprehensive reconsideration of OOOOb/c, including the 2024 Final Rule, to unleash energy dominance and continue the Nation's trajectory as a leader in clean energy and emissions reductions.
On November 26, 2025, EPA finalized an interim final rule to extend several compliance deadlines in the 2024 Final Rule to provide more realistic timelines for owners and operators to comply with the 2024 Final Rule.
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Original text here: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-continues-unleash-domestic-energy-revisions-burdensome-unworkable-biden-era-oil
