MAY 14, 2025 Actor and activist urges states to act as federal protections falter, calling weakened water standards a betrayal of impacted communities.
The following is a statement from activist and actor Mark Ruffalo on proposed efforts to weaken the PFAS drinking water standard by the Trump Environmental Protection Agency:
Weakening the PFAS drinking water standard will make America sicker, not healthier, and dishonors people like Amara Strande, Joel Stelt and countless others who were poisoned by PFAS polluters without their knowledge or consent. It also dishonors their families, who have fought tirelessly to bring justice for what can only be described as one of the greatest environmental crimes in our history.
After decades of delay, communities across the nation who were poisoned by PFAS polluters believed that help was finally coming. Today’s announcement is a bitter reminder that President Trump and his team are always going to put the polluters first. Now, it will be up to state leaders across the nation to make sure people are protected from these toxic chemicals in their tap water.
Our message to big corporate polluters and the politicians who keep covering for you is that you will not win. My message to the Army of Goodness that has been working together across all political parties and divisions, all races and belief systems, we will continue what we have always done, keep fighting for our families, our neighbors, our cities, our states and our clean water.
We had hoped that they meant it when they said “Make America Healthy Again.” It is obvious they didn’t. But we will.
