Chemical Industry Veterans Assume Control of EPA’s Toxic Oversight
The U.S. Senate is preparing to confirm Douglas Troutman, a longtime industry lobbyist, to lead the Environmental Protection Agency’s chemical safety office. This appointment would mean all four top positions in the EPA’s toxics division are now held by former chemical industry representatives, creating what environmental advocates call an unprecedented corporate capture of regulatory authority.
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Scott Faber, vice-president of government affairs for the Environmental Working Group, expressed grave concerns about the direction of chemical safety oversight. “The lunatics are running the asylum, and industry is firmly in charge of chemical safety,” Faber stated. “They will stop at nothing to reverse the progress that we’ve made in recent years on toxic chemicals.”
Troutman’s Industry Background and Regulatory Philosophy
Troutman currently serves as chief lobbyist for the American Cleaning Institute, representing major manufacturers including BASF, Dow and Procter & Gamble. His nomination follows a pattern of former industry lobbyists assuming key regulatory positions across federal agencies.
During his Senate confirmation hearing, Troutman suggested he would continue the administration’s deregulatory approach, stating: “I hope to bring a reasoned approach to engaging chemical management matters and issues under the belief that economic prosperity and environmental protection are not mutually exclusive.”
Track Record of Industry Influence
Troutman’s history includes participating in the 2016 rewrite of the Toxic Substances and Control Act, where industry successfully inserted loopholes that manufacturers have since exploited. Faber shared an illustrative example of Troutman’s approach to chemical regulation.
In 2017, California passed the groundbreaking Cleaning Product Right to Know Act, requiring manufacturers to disclose chemicals in cleaning products. Previously, these ingredients were protected as confidential business information. Research had shown that common cleaning products contained volatile organic compounds linked to cancer and childhood asthma.
However, in 2023, Congressman Larry Bucshon unexpectedly introduced legislation that would have pre-empted state laws and repealed the California disclosure requirement. Public health advocates eventually traced the effort back to Troutman, who described the repeal attempt as “a pro-consumer proposal.” Even major cleaning companies opposed the bill, which ultimately failed.
Broader Pattern of Industry-Led Regulation
The chemical safety office’s leadership team includes several other figures with strong industry ties. Nancy Beck, a deputy administrator, previously helped lead industry efforts against new drinking water limits for PFAS “forever chemicals,” which contaminate drinking water for at least 143 million Americans.
Lynn Ann Dekleva, another deputy assistant administrator, is a former Trump EPA official and DuPont executive. Both Beck and Dekleva have been accused of interfering in agency science and altering reports for political reasons during previous tenures.
The pattern extends to related innovations in regulatory appointments across different sectors, suggesting a broader administrative strategy.
Pesticide Program Also Under Industry Leadership
Completing the industry-dominated leadership structure, Kyle Kunkler—the new deputy assistant administrator overseeing the pesticides program—is a former pesticide industry lobbyist who received CropLife’s “rising star” award in 2020. His appointment continues what environmental groups describe as a systematic placement of industry representatives throughout regulatory agencies.
Jennifer Sass, a senior scientist with the Natural Resources Defense Council, noted: “They have long track records at the agency and we don’t have to guess – we know what they’ve done and what they’re going to do.”
State Regulations Become Last Line of Defense
With federal protections potentially weakening, advocates are increasingly looking to state-level action. Faber emphasized: “We need state powers more than ever.” Hundreds of state laws passed in recent years have successfully restricted toxic chemicals, forcing industry changes.
However, the Trump EPA has proposed a new rule that could invalidate many state regulations concerning toxic chemicals. This move parallels market trends in other industries where federal pre-emption of state laws has become increasingly common.
As regulatory frameworks evolve across multiple sectors, including recent technology and data privacy domains, the chemical safety appointments represent a significant test case for industry-led regulation. Environmental groups warn that the consequences for public health could be substantial if oversight becomes too closely aligned with corporate interests.
“Our only hope now is preserving state laws,” Faber concluded, highlighting the critical role that local and state governments may need to play in protecting consumers from potentially harmful chemicals in the absence of robust federal oversight.
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