Leaders across state government lashed out at the Trump administration on Tuesday as the White House delayed more than $50 million in funding earmarked to help replace lead pipes across Massachusetts.
The “thoughtless” delay will put kids at risk and jeopardize construction jobs across the Bay State, Gov. Maura Healey, state Treasurer Deborah Goldberg, and Attorney General Andrea J. Campbell said in a joint statement.
“Funding local projects is vital to get lead out of our drinking water. Massachusetts has some of the oldest housing stock and water infrastructure in the nation, and lead service lines remain a threat to public health, particularly for young children,” Healey said.
The state had been set to receive the money through the Biden-era Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announcing Massachusetts’ allocation in May 2024, officials said Tuesday.
The White House pressed pause on the cash while it conducts a review “against President [Donald] Trump’s executive orders,” the three pols said in their joint statement, noting that there’s no timeline on when the money might be released.
“This thoughtless delay is putting the safety and wellbeing of our most vulnerable residents at risk, especially our children,” Goldberg, who also chairs the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust, said.
“The federal funding we use addresses a critical health issue and allows us to invest in vital water infrastructure projects that directly benefit the people who need it most. Providing clean, lead-free drinking water should not be controversial,” she continued.
The EPA announced new rules last October that gave Massachusetts 10 years to replace all lead pipes statewide. The agency set aside more than $50 million in funding to help the state reach that goal, WBUR-FM reported at the time.
On Tuesday, Campbell, a Democrat who has initiated scores of legal actions against the Republican White House, underlined the public health threat posed by lead pipes.
“I will continue to speak out against policies that put the health and safety of our residents at risk,” she said.
Environmental advocates have been raising red flags on what they say is a concerted effort by the White House, abetted by tech billionaire Elon Musk and congressional Republicans, to undermine clean water efforts nationwide.
Specifically, they have pointed to Republican-authored legislation repealing the EPA’s 10-year mandate on lead pipe replacements.
If Congress passes this measure, it could prevent the EPA from ever mandating full lead service line replacement again,” the advocacy group Food & Water Watch said in a statement. “This would cause permanent harm for millions. That’s because the Congressional Review Act prohibits an agency from ever proposing a rule substantially the same as one that was repealed using it.”
On Tuesday, Healey called on the White House to restore the stalled funding for Massachusetts.
“These funds stimulate our economy by creating construction jobs, replacing outdated infrastructure, and most importantly ensuring that residents are drinking safe, clean water. We urge the Trump Administration to cease this dangerous delay in critical funding,” the Democratic governor said.
