The Trump administration’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced this week that it will begin a formal process to reconsider the Biden-era ban on chrysotile asbestos, the last form of the carcinogenic mineral still legally used in the United States. The move, revealed in a federal court filing, could delay enforcement of the ban for at least 30 months and potentially roll back a milestone public health protection.

Asbestos, once common in construction and industry, has been largely phased out in the U.S. due to its well-documented links to lung cancer, mesothelioma, and other deadly diseases. Health experts estimate that asbestos exposure is responsible for more than 40,000 deaths annually in the United States. While over 50 countries have banned all forms of asbestos, the U.S. only moved to prohibit chrysotile asbestos in 2024, under the Biden administration.

The 2024 ban targeted chrysotile asbestos in products such as brake linings, sheet gaskets, and diaphragms used in chlorine and sodium hydroxide production. 

Following the ban, chemical manufacturers and industry groups, including chlorine producers, challenged the regulation in court, arguing that alternatives to asbestos were not readily available and that the ban could disrupt vital chemical supply chains. In response, the EPA under President Trump’s leadership, requested a pause in litigation to review whether the ban exceeded what is “necessary” to mitigate risk and whether alternative measures could suffice.

Public health advocates and environmental groups have condemned the move, warning that it undermines decades of progress toward eliminating a known carcinogen. Critics also point to the influence of former industry lobbyists now holding key EPA positions and note that the Trump administration has pursued a broader deregulatory agenda, including efforts to weaken rules on greenhouse gases and other toxic chemicals.

The EPA’s review is expected to take until late 2027.