Fact Check: Trump's EPA previously allowed new asbestos products, risking public health.

Fact Check: "Trump's EPA previously allowed new asbestos products, risking public health."

What We Know

The claim that the Trump administration's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) allowed new asbestos products is rooted in the agency's actions during that administration. In 2019, the EPA issued a new rule that strengthened its ability to review asbestos products that were no longer on the market, closing a loophole that had allowed old asbestos uses to return without review (EPA Strengthens Regulation of Asbestos to Close ...). However, the Trump administration also initiated a reconsideration of a ban on chrysotile asbestos, the last type of asbestos still used in the U.S., which could have delayed enforcement of the ban for several years (E.P.A. Plans to Reconsider a Ban on Cancer-Causing Asbestos).

Chrysotile asbestos is linked to serious health risks, including lung cancer and mesothelioma, and is still imported for various uses in the U.S. (E.P.A. Plans to Reconsider a Ban on Cancer-Causing Asbestos). In 2024, the Biden administration finalized a ban on the use, manufacture, and import of chrysotile asbestos, marking a significant regulatory step that had not been taken since 2016 (Biden-Harris Administration finalizes ban on ongoing uses ...).

Analysis

The evidence suggests that while the Trump administration did not outright allow new asbestos products, it did take steps that could have facilitated the continued use of chrysotile asbestos. The reconsideration of the ban on this type of asbestos is a critical point; it indicates a potential rollback of protections that health advocates had fought for over decades. The EPA's move to delay the ban has been criticized as a significant setback for public health efforts (E.P.A. Plans to Reconsider a Ban on Cancer-Causing Asbestos).

The sources used in this analysis vary in reliability. The New York Times article provides a detailed account of the EPA's reconsideration process and includes quotes from health advocates, which adds credibility to its claims (E.P.A. Plans to Reconsider a Ban on Cancer-Causing Asbestos). The EPA's own press release is a primary source that outlines the agency's regulatory actions, but it may also reflect the agency's perspective, which could introduce bias (EPA Strengthens Regulation of Asbestos to Close ...). Other sources, such as AP News and Ars Technica, corroborate the timeline and actions taken by the Trump administration, reinforcing the claim's validity (EPA to review Biden's asbestos ban, Trump's EPA to "reconsider" ban on cancer-causing asbestos).

Conclusion

The claim that "Trump's EPA previously allowed new asbestos products, risking public health" is Partially True. While the Trump administration did not explicitly permit new asbestos products, its actions to reconsider a ban on chrysotile asbestos and the associated regulatory delays posed significant risks to public health. The administration's approach has been viewed as a step backward in the ongoing battle against asbestos-related health issues.

Fact Check: Trump's EPA previously allowed new asbestos products, risking public health.