Congress Members Question Defense Department’s Delay in PFAS Cleanup
Three dozen members of Congress, including two Republicans, asked Wednesday that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth explain why the Pentagon has pushed back its cleanup of “forever chemical” contamination at nearly 140 military sites nationwide.
The New York Times reported last month that the Department of Defense had delayed its cleanup efforts of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS, which are used in firefighting foam at military installations across the country. The chemicals are linked to serious diseases including cancer.
The delays extended the timelines for cleanup of contaminated water and soil by an average of five years, and in some cases by almost a decade.
In a letter to Mr. Hegseth, the 36 lawmakers, led by Democrats Debbie Dingell of Michigan and Teresa Leger Fernández of New Mexico, said they were “alarmed” to learn of the delays reported by The Times. Two Republican members of Congress, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and Mike Lawler of New York, also signed the letter.
“For years, our defense communities have suffered from the consequences of this contamination,” the letter said. “The DOD has a serious responsibility to these communities, including service members and their families.”
In a statement, Ciro Riccardi, the communications director for Representative Lawler said “PFAS contamination has a devastating impact on military families and surrounding communities across the country.”
