The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released a summary of key actions taken in 2025 to address contamination from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), with a focus on testing improvements, regulatory updates, cleanup efforts, and public outreach. Administrator Lee Zeldin identified PFAS as a top agency priority from day one, aiming to ensure safer drinking water and a cleaner environment nationwide.
Through the PFAS OUTreach Initiative (PFAS OUT), the EPA engaged with public water systems needing upgrades, working with utilities, technical experts, and local and Tribal leaders to develop practical solutions. The agency allocated $945 million to reduce PFAS exposure in drinking water.
In 2025, the EPA developed a new method to detect 40 PFAS compounds in wastewater, groundwater, soil, and fish tissue. It proposed changes to PFAS reporting requirements under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to streamline implementation while preserving access to safety data. Updates were made to the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (NPDWR) for PFOA and PFOS, including revised compliance timelines.
The EPA reaffirmed the hazardous substance designation of PFOA and PFOS under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) and increased the frequency of PFAS Destruction and Disposal Guidance updates from every three years to annually.
Site-specific actions included the installation of 108 Point of Entry Treatment systems near the Route 31 Sludge Superfund site in New Jersey and the completion of four treatment systems protecting over 9,500 households in Southern California. Emergency actions under the Superfund law continued at sites in New Jersey and Oklahoma.
The EPA also conducted PFAS testing near military installations such as Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington and Fort Bragg in North Carolina. Interim PFAS laboratory certification was granted to Alaska’s Department of Environmental Conservation, and additional work was carried out with Region 7 Tribal Drinking Water Systems.
“At the EPA, we are focused on real results to protect families, farmers, and small businesses,” said EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin. “These efforts are just the start of the work we will do on PFAS contamination to ensure all Americans have the cleanest air, land, and water.”
To coordinate future efforts, the EPA has established a cross-agency group led by the Office of the Administrator and the Office of Water, involving senior technical and policy leaders from across the agency. The EPA continues to apply existing environmental laws and validated scientific methods to regulate PFAS, monitor contamination, and develop treatment technologies.
