Federal Independent Agencies
Here's a look at documents from federal independent agencies
Featured Stories
SBA Doubles Cumulative 7(a) and 504 Loan Limit to $10 Million
WASHINGTON, May 19 -- The Small Business Administration issued the following news release on May 18, 2026:
* * *
SBA Doubles Cumulative 7(a) and 504 Loan Limit to $10 Million
Effective July 4, eligible borrowers can access record levels of SBA-backed funding
*
Today, Kelly Loeffler, Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), announced a new rule that will allow eligible borrowers to combine their 7(a) and 504 loans for up to $10 million in SBA-backed financing, increasing the cumulative loan limit from its current $5 million and expanding the capital available to small
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 19 -- The Small Business Administration issued the following news release on May 18, 2026:
* * *
SBA Doubles Cumulative 7(a) and 504 Loan Limit to $10 Million
Effective July 4, eligible borrowers can access record levels of SBA-backed funding
*
Today, Kelly Loeffler, Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), announced a new rule that will allow eligible borrowers to combine their 7(a) and 504 loans for up to $10 million in SBA-backed financing, increasing the cumulative loan limit from its current $5 million and expanding the capital available to smallbusinesses across all industries. Small manufacturers, who can currently secure an unlimited number of 504 loans as long as each loan is tied to a distinct project, will also be able to apply for $5 million through the 7(a) loan program. Effective July 4, this rule will raise the SBA's maximum financing offering to small businesses to the highest level in agency history.
"The Trump SBA is unleashing historic new capital to support the millions of small businesses that are currently in growth mode thanks to President Donald J. Trump and the America First economic agenda," said SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler. "Amid record small business formation, job growth that continues to exceed expectations, and a surge in demand for Made in America, the agency is committed to supplying small businesses with the funding to hire, expand, and increase production. By doubling the combined loan limits of SBA's 7(a) and 504 loans, this Administration is empowering job creators, particularly manufacturers, to invest in American workers, rebuild our industrial strength, and grow the small business economy."
Under the new policy, qualified borrowers who secure a 7(a) loan first may access up to $5 million through the 7(a) loan program and up to $5 million through the 504 loan program, for a combined total of $10 million in SBA-backed financing. By decoupling 7(a) loan balances from the 504 program, the SBA is giving capital-intensive small businesses -- including those in construction, logistics, energy, food production, and related industries -- greater flexibility to pair long-term financing for real estate and equipment with working capital to support operations and expansion. For manufacturers, the rule will provide even more capital to increase production, hire workers, and meet rising demand driven by President Trump's fair trade agenda.
These actions build on the Trump Administration's commitment to supporting growth across the small business economy, which is already in expansion mode thanks to the Working Family Tax Cuts, fair trade, and historic deregulation. Monthly small business formation has reached a record high under President Trump and job numbers have exceeded expectations for two consecutive months, propelled by trillions in new investments flooding into the country since the Liberation Day tariffs took effect. Job growth is particularly strong within the manufacturing sector; the first quarter of 2026 saw the first manufacturing job growth since 2023, with every major indicator now flashing strong expansion after years of decline during the Biden Administration.
Under the leadership of Administrator Loeffler, the SBA has introduced numerous programs and rule changes to deliver additional capital across key industries such as manufacturing, agriculture, housing, energy, and transportation. This year, the agency waived loan fees for manufacturing NAICS codes and established the first-ever loan program dedicated to American manufacturers. The agency also announced a new 90% Made in America Loan Guarantee for small manufacturers, as well as a 90% Grocery Guarantee for small businesses across the food supply chain. The agency continues to promote existing programs such as the asset-based 7(a) Working Capital Pilot (WCP) Program, which also has the ability to offer homebuilders project-based lines of credit up to $5 million.
* * *
About the 7(a) Loan Program
The 7(a) loan program is SBA's flagship program, a public-private partnership which offers government-guaranteed loans to help small businesses finance equipment purchases, real estate acquisition, working capital (including revolving credit lines), and business expansion.
* * *
About the 504 Loan Program
The 504 loan program provides long-term, fixed rate financing for major fixed assets that promote business growth and job creation. 504 loans are available through Certified Development Companies (CDCs), SBA's community-based nonprofit partners who promote economic development within their communities. CDCs are certified and regulated by SBA.
* * *
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.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.sba.gov/article/2026/05/18/sba-doubles-cumulative-7a-504-loan-limit-10-million
Black-Footed Ferret Kits Born at Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute
WASHINGTON, May 19 -- The Smithsonian Institution National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute issued the following news release:
* * *
Black-Footed Ferret Kits Born at Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute
Watch the Kits Via a Live Cam on the Zoo's Website
*
Six black-footed ferret kits were born at Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute's (NZCBI) research campus in Front Royal, Virginia, as part of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's (USFWS) black-footed ferret recovery program. The kits were born Monday, May 11, to Mizuno, a 2-year-old
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 19 -- The Smithsonian Institution National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute issued the following news release:
* * *
Black-Footed Ferret Kits Born at Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute
Watch the Kits Via a Live Cam on the Zoo's Website
*
Six black-footed ferret kits were born at Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute's (NZCBI) research campus in Front Royal, Virginia, as part of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's (USFWS) black-footed ferret recovery program. The kits were born Monday, May 11, to Mizuno, a 2-year-oldfirst-time mother. The new kits are being raised by their mother in a specially designed den box equipped with a soundless, black-and-white camera. Beginning today, the public can watch the family on the Black-footed Ferret Webcam (https://nationalzoo.si.edu/webcams/black-footed-ferret-cam).
"We're thrilled that kits and mom are healthy," said Adrienne Crosier, curator of carnivores at NZCBI. "Mizuno is a natural mom, and she is doing a great job raising this large litter. We've paired other ferrets this year, too, so we hope to welcome even more healthy kits later in the year."
The kits' sire, 4-year-old Dickory, was born at NZCBI. This is his second litter. Male ferrets do not play a role in rearing their young.
Starting at four days old, the kits receive daily check-ups from keepers to monitor their health, development and weight gain. When the kits are 60 days old, veterinary staff will conduct a full neonatal exam.
The kits will remain with their mother for about three months. By that time, they will be ready to live independently. Afterward, they may remain at NZCBI for future breeding, transfer to other accredited zoos or wildlife centers, or become candidates for USFWS' black-footed ferret reintroduction program. Mizuno and Dickory received a breeding recommendation as part of this cooperative effort.
Black-footed ferrets are North America's only native ferrets. The species was once thought to be extinct; the last colony was found by a rancher in 1981 near Meeteetse, Wyoming. The USFWS and the Wyoming Game and Fish Department later brought 18 ferrets into human care, forming the foundation of today's recovery program. Thanks to collaborative breeding and reintroduction efforts, including NZCBI's, the wild population now numbers around 400 individuals.
Since 1989, more than 1,200 kits have been born at NZCBI, and approximately 800 NZCBI-raised ferrets have joined reintroduction programs for release. Currently, 27 adult black-footed ferrets live at NZCBI's research campus.
* * *
About the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute
The Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI) leads the Smithsonian's global effort to save species, better understand ecosystems and train future generations of conservationists. Its two campuses are home to some of the world's most critically endangered species. Always free of charge, the Zoo's 163-acre park in the heart of Washington, D.C., features 2,200 animals representing 400 species and is a popular destination for children and families. At the Conservation Biology Institute's 3,200-acre campus in Virginia, breeding and veterinary research on 250 animals representing 20 species provide critical data for the management of animals in human care and valuable insights for the conservation of wild populations. NZCBI's more than 300 staff and scientists work in Washington, D.C., Virginia, and with partners at field sites across the United States and in more than 40 countries to save wildlife, collaborate with communities, and conserve native habitats. NZCBI is a long-standing accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.si.edu/newsdesk/releases/black-footed-ferret-kits-born-smithsonians-national-zoo-and-conservation-biology
Inter-American Development Bank: Ninth Superheroes of Development Contest Channels a World Cup Spirit
WASHINGTON, May 19 -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following news release:
* * *
Ninth Superheroes of Development Contest Channels a World Cup Spirit
The contest is accepting submissions until June 5, 2026
*
The Inter-American Development Bank Group (IDB Group) has kicked off the ninth Superheroes of Development contest in this World Cup year, tapping into the spirit of the world's most popular sport to recognize the teams that, project after project, take to the field to fight for better lives in Latin America and the Caribbean.
This year, Superheroes of Development spotlights
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 19 -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following news release:
* * *
Ninth Superheroes of Development Contest Channels a World Cup Spirit
The contest is accepting submissions until June 5, 2026
*
The Inter-American Development Bank Group (IDB Group) has kicked off the ninth Superheroes of Development contest in this World Cup year, tapping into the spirit of the world's most popular sport to recognize the teams that, project after project, take to the field to fight for better lives in Latin America and the Caribbean.
This year, Superheroes of Development spotlightsvalues shared by both soccer and projects to improve lives in the region: teamwork, continuous learning from new experiences and evidence to improve performance, resilience in the face of adversity, decision-making under pressure, adaptability, and a constant striving to be better-- crucial qualities, on or off the field.
The contest honors IDB Group clients, local partners, and executing agencies that faced significant challenges while implementing projects and distilled their experience into specific lessons and solutions that maximize impact and can be replicated in other contexts in the region.
"Though Superheroes of Development, we aim to recognize the teams working to improve lives in the region that have an exceptional ability to adapt to challenging environments," said Lorena Rodriguez Bu, chief of the IDB's Knowledge and Learning Division. "These teams generate a positive impact for thousands of people and produce knowledge that's applicable to other projects in the region. This continuous cycle of experience leading to evidence leading to more effective decisions in future IDB Group operations drives broader results," she added.
The contest celebrates IDB Group local partners and clients in two categories:
* Category 1: IDB and IDB Lab projects that are currently being implemented (with at least an initial disbursement) or have ended since January 2016. IDB projects must have a Project Completion Report (PCR).
* Category 2: IDB Invest Projects with an Expanded Supervision Report (XSR) that is completed or currently being drafted. This report contains IDB Invest's internal final evaluation of the project, which is validated by the IDB Office of Evaluation and Oversight.
Teams interested in participating must fill out the online form on the contest's homepage, where the rules and regulations are also posted. The IDB Group will share the winning stories throughout the region, and the six finalist teams will be invited to defend their projects at an awards ceremony at the IDB headquarters in Washington DC.
Since it was first launched, Superheroes of Development has received over 750 submissions from 26 countries in the region. In 2025, the winning teams were from Panama, Brazil, and Bolivia, showcasing development talent from across the region.
For more information, please visit https://cloud.mail.iadb.org/superheroes-of-development
* * *
About the IDB Group
The Inter-American Development Bank Group (IDB Group) is the leading source of financing and knowledge for improving lives in Latin America and the Caribbean. It comprises the IDB, which works with the region's public sector and enables the private sector; IDB Invest, which directly supports private companies and projects; and IDB Lab, which spurs entrepreneurial innovation.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.iadb.org/en/news/ninth-superheroes-development-contest-channels-world-cup-spirit
Global Development Banks Issue Joint Statement Outlining Multi-Billion Relief Plan for Market Volatility
WASHINGTON, May 19 -- The Inter-American Development Bank posted the following joint statement on May 18, 2026:
* * *
Joint Statement by Seven Multilateral Development Banks Pledging Support to Address Impacts of the Middle East Conflict
PARIS - The signatory Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) are responding to requests for support from countries and clients to help address the heterogeneous and compound impacts from the conflict in the Middle East, including disruptions to energy and fertilizer markets and trade routes, with spillover effects on inflation, food security, jobs, fiscal and
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 19 -- The Inter-American Development Bank posted the following joint statement on May 18, 2026:
* * *
Joint Statement by Seven Multilateral Development Banks Pledging Support to Address Impacts of the Middle East Conflict
PARIS - The signatory Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) are responding to requests for support from countries and clients to help address the heterogeneous and compound impacts from the conflict in the Middle East, including disruptions to energy and fertilizer markets and trade routes, with spillover effects on inflation, food security, jobs, fiscal andexternal balances, and financing conditions.
MDBs are uniquely positioned to combine financing, policy support, private sector instruments, and technical expertise at scale to help countries manage shocks, preserve development gains, and strengthen long-term resilience. With the support of their shareholders, MDBs are providing assistance in line with our respective mandates, strategies, and operational models.
MDBs' responses aim to provide immediate relief by supporting the most vulnerable populations and ensuring the continuity of essential services, while continuing to lay the structural foundations for sustainable resilient economies, including through:
* Support to preserve access to essential goods, like to energy, food, and agricultural inputs for economies most exposed to shocks, including through the expansion of trade and supply chain finance to ensure continued access, and support for diversification.
* Fast-disbursing budget support to help governments facing heightened fiscal pressures mitigate the impact of shocks on the lives and livelihoods of those most at risk, while maintaining price signals, through targeted support to protect poor and vulnerable households. While client governments are under pressure to act swiftly in delivering support, it should be done without compromising their economies' long-term resilience.
* Provision of working capital and liquidity as well as advisory services to help those firms, including micro, small and medium enterprises, utility companies, and other public sector clients that need to absorb market volatility and to protect jobs.
* Policy advice and technical assistance on targeted and time-bound support measures for vulnerable households and the most affected sectors while preserving incentives for efficient resource use, maintaining medium-term fiscal sustainability, alongside support for reforms aimed at strengthening resilience, economic governance, job creation and domestic resource mobilization.
* Supporting investments to enhance resilience, including through diversification of energy sources and improved connectivity.
In the rapidly changing context vigilant monitoring is key, including of emerging food security risks, to ensure appropriate early warning and coordination of operational responses.
MDBs will continue to adapt and scale their responses in line with countries' and clients' needs. MDBs will coordinate closely, and work with governments, development partners, and the private sector to ensure fast, targeted, time-bound, and fiscally sustainable responses.
This statement was signed by the following MDBs: African Development Bank Group, Asian Development Bank, Council of Europe Development Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, European Investment Bank, Inter-American Development Bank Group, and the World Bank Group.
* * *
About the IDB Group
The Inter-American Development Bank Group (IDB Group) is the leading source of financing and knowledge for improving lives in Latin America and the Caribbean. It comprises the IDB, which works with the region's public sector and enables the private sector; IDB Invest, which directly supports private companies and projects; and IDB Lab, which spurs entrepreneurial innovation.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.iadb.org/en/news/joint-statement-seven-multilateral-development-banks-pledging-support-address-impacts-middle-east
EPA and USACE Finalize Groundwater Cleanup Plan for the Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant
WASHINGTON, May 18 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
* * *
EPA and USACE Finalize Groundwater Cleanup Plan for the Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant
Bacteria will accelerate breakdown of contaminants
LENEXA, KAN. - Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) released the finalized cleanup plan in a second Record of Decision Amendment (ROD-A) for the contaminated groundwater plume associated with the former Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant in Grand Island, Nebraska.
The cleanup plan - which is also
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 18 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
* * *
EPA and USACE Finalize Groundwater Cleanup Plan for the Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant
Bacteria will accelerate breakdown of contaminants
LENEXA, KAN. - Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) released the finalized cleanup plan in a second Record of Decision Amendment (ROD-A) for the contaminated groundwater plume associated with the former Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant in Grand Island, Nebraska.
The cleanup plan - which is alsocalled an amended remedy -is based on the remedial investigation and feasibility study conducted by USACE. A remedial investigation identifies the nature and extent of contamination at a site, while a feasibility study evaluates potential alternatives for cleanup. This amended remedy replaces the groundwater extraction treatment system with native bacteria that can break down the contaminants at an accelerated rate. Using bacteria to clean up contaminants is called bioremediation. A public comment period was conducted in February 2025.
The bioremediation treatment, using blackstrap molasses whey, vegetable oil, and corn steep, will provide a source of carbon for bacteria to consume, producing an environment that will see the deterioration of contaminants in the groundwater.
The overall goal of the amended remedy is the restoration of the groundwater to support that resource's future unlimited use and unrestricted exposure. USACE also determined that implementing the bioremediation remedy would provide significant cost-savings and speed up the clean-up process while continuing to protect human health and the environment.
EPA Region 7 and the Nebraska Department of Water, Energy and Environment (DWEE) reviewed the amended remedy and support its implementation.
Background
The former Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant is a 12,042-acre site near Grand Island, Nebraska. The U.S. Army built the plant in 1942 to produce munitions and provide support functions during World War II. The plant area includes five major production areas where munitions were loaded, assembled and packed: a fertilizer manufacturer; two major storage facilities; sanitary landfills; and burning grounds where materials contaminated with explosives were ignited.
Improper disposal of contaminated wastewater and other plant operations resulted in groundwater contamination on-site and migration beyond the property boundary. USACE is conducting remedial investigations, remedial actions, and continuous groundwater monitoring.
EPA Region 7 and DWEE provide oversight of remedial activities performed at the site pursuant to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act's Federal Facility Agreement (https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2025-06/cornhusker-army-ammunition-plant.pdf).
Read the final Record of Decision Amendment document for Operable Unit 1 On-Post Explosives Plume (https://semspub.epa.gov/work/07/30829933.pdf).
Visit the Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant Restoration website Exit EPA's website (https://www.chaaprestoration.com/).
Learn more about the Superfund program at EPA's Superfund program website (https://www.epa.gov/superfund).
***
Original text here: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-and-usace-finalize-groundwater-cleanup-plan-cornhusker-army-ammunition-plant
EPA Advances Comprehensive PFAS Strategy with Legally Defensible, Practical, Scientifically Sound Drinking Water Protections
WASHINGTON, May 18 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
* * *
EPA Advances Comprehensive PFAS Strategy with Legally Defensible, Practical, Scientifically Sound Drinking Water Protections
*
Holistic approach tackles PFAS across its full lifecycle to Make America Healthy Again
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is reaffirming its commitment to Make America Healthy Again at a PFAS destruction event alongside U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. by advancing a comprehensive, lifecycle-based strategy to address
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 18 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
* * *
EPA Advances Comprehensive PFAS Strategy with Legally Defensible, Practical, Scientifically Sound Drinking Water Protections
*
Holistic approach tackles PFAS across its full lifecycle to Make America Healthy Again
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is reaffirming its commitment to Make America Healthy Again at a PFAS destruction event alongside U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. by advancing a comprehensive, lifecycle-based strategy to addressper- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). As part of that strategy, EPA is highlighting innovative PFAS treatment and destruction technologies, announcing nearly $1 billion in new funding to states to address PFAS in drinking water, and issuing two proposed rules for public comment that uphold the National Primary Drinking Water Standards for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) while enhancing practical implementation and proposing to correct potential failures of the Biden-Harris Administration to follow the clear requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). Together with EPA's parallel work to address PFAS before it enters the environment, EPA is delivering real solutions to reduce PFAS exposure for Americans.
"The Trump EPA is committed to Make America Healthy Again by ensuring clean air, land, and water-and by taking on PFAS the right way, across the full lifecycle and built to last," said EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin. "That means rules grounded in gold-standard science and the Safe Drinking Water Act, support for water systems on the front lines, and action to stop PFAS pollution at the source before it ever reaches a tap. The Biden administration cut corners and failed to follow the law. We are fixing that error with standards water systems can actually implement and that will hold up to scrutiny, while addressing PFOA and PFOS, two of the best-studied PFAS with well-documented health impacts."
"PFAS contamination is a serious public health challenge that demands rigorous science, clear standards, and practical solutions," said HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. "Across HHS, we are advancing gold-standard research to better understand PFAS exposure, toxicity, and long-term health impacts on Americans. EPA's actions today take important steps to reduce exposure, strengthen drinking water protections, and support communities as we work to address environmental contributors to chronic disease and advance the Make America Healthy Again agenda."
The agency is also announcing nearly $1 billion in grant funding to address PFAS and other emerging contaminants in drinking water through the Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities Grant. With this grant allotment, the agency has made $5 billion available through this program over five years. EPA will be taking steps to ensure that available funding is expeditiously getting into communities that need it to identify and address PFAS and reduce exposure through drinking water.
A drinking water standard only protects Americans if it can actually be implemented by the nation's water systems and survive legal challenge. When a Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) is rushed, it minimizes the opportunity for meaningful public comment, or fails to follow the statutory process Congress laid out in the SDWA, utilities face years of uncertainty, ratepayers face avoidable costs, and public health protections can be delayed or undone in court. The Trump EPA's approach is straightforward: follow the law, follow the science, and give water systems standards they can build their compliance programs around with confidence. The first proposed rule, if finalized, would continue supporting the health-protective federal drinking water standards for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) while strengthening practical implementation by establishing an opt-in process through which eligible drinking water systems may apply for up to two additional years-until 2031-to come into compliance with enforceable limits.
Under the agency's proposal, the extension would not be automatic. Drinking water systems that wish to receive additional time would need to affirmatively seek the extension and meet specific criteria EPA will set out in the final rule. Systems that do not opt in would remain subject to the original 2029 compliance deadline. This design ensures that systems prepared to meet 2029 are not slowed down, while systems facing legitimate implementation hurdles have a transparent, accountable path to additional time.
Where sources of drinking water are contaminated with PFOA and PFOS, protecting public health generally requires drinking water systems to diagnose the severity of contamination through robust sampling; evaluate various compliance options, including changing source water or installing new control systems; construct and test new controls, often including pilot studies; evaluate financing options; and train their workforce to support construction, operation, and maintenance.
Allowing drinking water systems to seek additional time for this work could also allow the cost of PFAS removal technologies to come down through technological advancements and production efficiencies. Continued federal investment, paired with a growing market for treatment technologies, is already driving costs down, better informing water utilities about what works, and expanding the toolkit available to remove PFAS in its various forms. That means lower water bills for Americans and more durable public health protections.
The second proposed rule, if finalized, would address some stakeholders' legal concerns related to the Biden Administration's failure to follow statutory requirements articulated in the SDWA when establishing regulations for perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA, commonly referred to as GenX chemicals), and the hazard index of these three plus perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS).
The SDWA requires a sequential approach to regulation, where the Agency must first propose to regulate a particular drinking water contaminant and seek public comment on whether a regulation would be appropriate. Only after the public has had the opportunity to comment on that proposal and when the EPA has finalized a determination to regulate may the EPA publish a proposed regulation of that contaminant. Instead of abiding by that process set out in the SDWA, the Biden EPA combined steps simultaneously, which is not permitted, denying the public a chance to weigh in on the threshold question for PFHxS, PFNA, HFPO-DA and the Index PFAS, prior to locking in the new standard.
The proposed rule takes comment on whether the previous regulation did not adhere to the procedural and substantive requirements the statute imposes, leaving it legally vulnerable and creating implementation uncertainty for water systems.
Following the second proposal, if finalized, the Trump EPA would deliver on its commitment to evaluate these PFAS for regulation under the SDWA and do it correctly by supporting transparency and following gold-standard science. While EPA cannot pre-determine the outcome of the rulemaking, it is possible that the result could be more stringent requirements addressing these PFAS in drinking water. What Americans and water systems can count on is that whatever standards emerge will be built on a defensible legal and scientific record.
Stopping PFAS contamination before it reaches drinking water sources is central to EPA's strategy. The agency is advancing technology-based effluent limitations and pretreatment standards for key industrial categories that discharge PFAS, including chemical manufacturers and other sources, to keep PFAS out of waterways in the first place. The agency is currently developing a proposed rule that will be issued for public comment in the coming months. EPA is also using its authorities under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to ensure new and existing chemicals are subject to the most robust, gold-standard scientific review before they enter commerce. The agency is also looking to hold polluters accountable for legacy contamination consistent with the polluter-pays principle, rather than the passive receivers that never placed these chemicals into the environment but have been left to manage them. Because enforcement discretion alone cannot shield passive receivers from third-party cleanup lawsuits and can be reversed by a future administration, a durable statutory fix from Congress is necessary.
By reducing PFAS at the point of discharge, EPA lowers the long-term treatment burden on water systems and their ratepayers and gets closer to the source of the problem. Source reduction also limits the volume of PFAS-laden residuals that water systems must ultimately manage, making destruction and disposal more tractable.
These proposals are just one piece of a bigger effort to address PFAS, including proactive support to drinking water systems, funding for infrastructure upgrades, additional monitoring and evaluation, and wastewater discharge limits.
The Trump EPA is also making measurable progress identifying and validating the next generation of technologies to treat, remove, and destroy PFAS. That toolkit spans proven separation technologies that pull PFAS out of water such as granular activated carbon, ion exchange resins, and high-pressure membranes such as reverse osmosis, alongside a class of destruction technologies under study, such as supercritical water oxidation, electrochemical oxidation, hydrothermal alkaline treatment, non-thermal plasma, and the pyrolysis and gasification of PFAS-laden residuals.
To keep pace with a fast-moving field, in April, the agency announced it has moved its PFAS Destruction and Disposal Guidance from a three-year update cycle to annual updates, allowing EPA to continually assess the real-world effectiveness of available and emerging technologies and put the best-performing options in front of the water systems that need them. That assessment is increasingly informed by performance in the field. For example, EPA completed four full-scale PFAS treatment systems serving the Irvine Ranch and Orange County Water Districts in southern California, protecting more than 9,500 households. Each deployment generates verified performance data that sharpens utility decision-making, narrows the gap between promising and proven technologies, and steadily expands the toolkit available to remove and destroy PFAS in the many forms in which it appears.
Underpinning this work is a robust and ongoing EPA research program. Agency scientists are continually developing, validating, and refining gold-standard analytical methods, both targeted methods that measure specific known PFAS and nontargeted methods that use advanced instrumentation to surface previously unidentified compounds, across drinking water, surface water, wastewater, soil, and air. EPA recently developed a method capable of detecting 40 PFAS compounds across media ranging from groundwater and sediment to landfill liquid and fish tissue, and the agency continues to invest in research to understand the thousands of PFAS compounds and to advance new treatment and destruction technologies. This research foundation ensures that the standards EPA sets and the cleanup actions it supports rest on data the agency can stand behind.
EPA has established a cross-agency coordinating group, led by the Office of the Administrator and the Office of Water, and drawing senior technical and policy leaders from across EPA program offices and Regions to share research, innovation, and actions, and accelerate the cleanup of PFAS contamination. An overview of the agency's first-year PFAS work, spanning testing and detection, direct community support, enforcement, public education, commonsense regulation, and cutting-edge research, is detailed in EPA's roundup of major year-one PFAS actions.
On April 14, EPA announced its PFAS OUTreach-or PFAS OUT-initiative accelerating progress in addressing PFAS in drinking water. This new program proactively works with communities and water systems to reduce exposure to PFOA and PFOS in drinking water. Recognizing that small, rural, and disadvantaged water systems often have fewer resources, PFAS OUT is specifically designed to ensure these communities are not left behind. PFAS OUT will help every drinking water system dealing with PFOA or PFOS to effectively understand the challenge and reduce exposure as soon as possible while positioning them for successful compliance with enforceable drinking water standards.
EPA has additional funding programs to help drinking water systems address PFAS:
* $4 billion is being invested through the Drinking Water State Revolving Funds dedicated to addressing PFAS and emerging contaminants. This is in addition to general state revolving fund money that can be used for PFAS-related projects.
* More than $6.5 billion in low-interest financing is currently available through EPA's Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) Loan program, which can also be used to address PFAS.
Sustained investment of this scale does more than fund individual projects. It drives down the per-system cost of treatment, generates real-world performance data that better informs utility decision-making, accelerates innovation in destruction and disposal technologies, and helps mitigate PFAS across the many forms in which it appears in source water.
EPA is continuing to use the tools under the SDWA to address Americans' concerns about chemicals in drinking water. Earlier this spring, EPA proposed to prioritize funding and research for PFAS, microplastics, and pharmaceuticals by including them as groups on the draft sixth Contaminant Candidates List.
The two proposed rules will be published in the Federal Register with a 60-day public comment period, and EPA will hold a public hearing on July 7, 2026. EPA encourages robust participation in this process as we work together to protect Americans from PFAS exposure in the most effective way possible.
For more information about the proposed rules, including pre-publication versions of the proposals, fact sheets, directions for submitting comments, and information about a forthcoming public hearing, visit EPA's webpages here and here. Also, learn more about PFAS OUT.
Background
On April 10, 2024, EPA announced the final National Primary Drinking Water Regulation that included legally enforceable drinking water Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for PFOA and PFOS, as well as PFHxS, PFNA, HFPO-DA, and mixtures of these three PFAS and PFBS, requiring public water system compliance by April 2029.
***
Original text here: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-advances-comprehensive-pfas-strategy-legally-defensible-practical-scientifically
Borealis Carries More Than 416,000 at Second Anniversary
WASHINGTON, May 18 -- Amtrak (National Railroad Passenger Corp.) issued the following news:
* * *
Borealis Carries More Than 416,000 at Second Anniversary
*
Total Amtrak Twin Cities - Chicago ridership up 27 percent in two years
ST. PAUL, Minn., and CHICAGO - Borealis SM train service between the Twin Cities and Chicago continues to exceed expectations as it celebrates its second birthday. The partnership between three states and Amtrak began in May of 2024 and more than 416,000 passengers have enjoyed the comfortable and reliable service, demonstrating the need for safe and accessible transportation
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 18 -- Amtrak (National Railroad Passenger Corp.) issued the following news:
* * *
Borealis Carries More Than 416,000 at Second Anniversary
*
Total Amtrak Twin Cities - Chicago ridership up 27 percent in two years
ST. PAUL, Minn., and CHICAGO - Borealis SM train service between the Twin Cities and Chicago continues to exceed expectations as it celebrates its second birthday. The partnership between three states and Amtrak began in May of 2024 and more than 416,000 passengers have enjoyed the comfortable and reliable service, demonstrating the need for safe and accessible transportationoptions in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Illinois.
Borealis trains originate from St. Paul at midday and Chicago in the late morning with cafe service featuring regional items and views of the Mississippi River between St. Paul and La Crosse, Wisc. These trains are operated by Amtrak under contracts with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT), Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) and Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), with support from Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) grants.
"The Borealis line is a testament to what happens when we prioritize the American traveler," said Federal Railroad Administrator David Fink. "FRA is working with Amtrak and our state partners to usher in the Golden Age of Rail with world-class connectivity and economic growth."
"Students, business workers and families choose passenger rail because it's safe, efficient and reliable," said Wisconsin Transportation Secretary Kristina Boardman. "We are thrilled that the Borealis continues to be successful and offer affordable train travel to great destinations. WisDOT looks forward to the continued growth of this service and passenger rail options throughout Wisconsin."
"We are so pleased the Borealis continues to operate at capacity, signaling the continued need for reliable, safe transportation options," said MnDOT Commissioner Nancy Daubenberger. "We look forward to continuing the positive partnerships with WisDOT, IDOT and Amtrak, to potentially grow and expand on this much-needed service."
"As the country's rail hub, Illinois is proud to play a unique role in connecting states and communities across the Midwest," said Illinois Transportation Secretary Gia Biagi. ""The success of the Borealis is a testament to the strong partnership with our neighbors in Wisconsin and Minnesota, as well as the public's desire for travel options they can count on and afford."
The Borealis and the Amtrak Empire Builder trains between St. Paul and Chicago together provide passengers with two daily departures eastbound and westbound. Adding the state-sponsored Hiawatha Service trains between Milwaukee and Chicago, the result is a total corridor ridership of nearly 1.8 million passengers, an increase of 27 percent in two years.
"The strong response to the Borealis service is indicative of what we see across our network," said Amtrak Executive Vice President Jennifer Mitchell. "People want another choice besides driving and offering service multiple times daily supercharges the number of customers who choose Amtrak because our schedules fit their needs.
"We look forward to adding more seating capacity and more service in this corridor in the months and years to come."
Amtrak has everyday discounts for children ages 2-12, students, seniors, veterans, military personnel and families, groups, and others. Details and schedules are on Amtrak.com.
***
Original text here: https://media.amtrak.com/2026/05/borealis-carries-more-than-416000-at-second-anniversary/
