WASHINGTON – The House today released an update to the National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, for fiscal year 2026 that could result in more contamination by the toxic “forever chemicals” known as PFAS at defense sites.
More pollution would increase long-term cleanup costs and undermine years of investment in safer alternatives to the toxic chemicals. The bill would cause these problems by allowing the Department of Defense to return to purchasing and using firefighting foams made with toxic PFAS.
But the same bill calls on the Pentagon to accelerate cleanup efforts and expand access to clean drinking water to more contaminated households. Yet Congress still fails to provide the DOD with the funding it needs for PFAS cleanups.
The following is a statement from Jared Hayes, senior policy analyst at the Environmental Working Group:
Allowing the Pentagon to once again buy and use firefighting foams made with PFAS is an alarming step backward.
These provisions will drive up long-term cleanup costs, reverse years of progress toward safer alternatives, and expose even more communities to these toxic forever chemicals.
Lawmakers rightly banned the Pentagon from buying PFAS-containing foam starting in 2023, with a full phaseout to take effect in 2026.
Reversing those protections now ignores the science on the risks of PFAS and threatens public health.
Tens of millions of dollars have already been spent developing and purchasing fluorine-free firefighting foams. These investments were intended to reduce the $51 billion environmental cleanup spending backlog, which continues to grow.
Congress has worked for years to phase out PFAS on our military bases and increase funding for cleanups. These new provisions betray that progress and put military families and nearby communities at even greater risk.
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The Environmental Working Group (EWG) is a nonprofit, non-partisan organization that empowers people to live healthier lives in a healthier environment. Through research, advocacy and unique education tools, EWG drives consumer choice and civic action.