In The Newsroom With Bob Crossen: EPA Acts on PFAS, Trump Proposes Deep Funding Cuts

EPA is moving forward with PFAS drinking water limits but delaying compliance deadlines and withdrawing a controversial hazard index. At the same time, the Trump White House has proposed about a 90% cut to the State Revolving Funds—raising serious concerns about how utilities will afford compliance and critical infrastructure upgrades.

In this episode of In The Newsroom, Bob Crossen, Editorial Director of WaterWorld and Wastewater Digest, explains the latest regulatory developments and what they mean for the water sector.

The conversation covers EPA’s updated PFAS strategy, potential legal challenges, and the “polluter pays” approach to liability. Bob also discusses how smaller utilities struggle to access SRF funding, the role of WIFIA, and what Congress might do next. With billions in water projects on the line, this episode provides a clear breakdown of major headlines shaping the future of drinking water and wastewater in the U.S.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Waterloop and Guest Introduction

02:45 PFAS Regulations and EPA's Strategic Update

05:49 Budget Cuts and Their Impact on Water Infrastructure

08:44 Polluter Pays Model and Utility Concerns

11:33 Federal Funding and State Revolving Funds

14:38 Earmarking and Its Implications for Water Projects

22:24 Navigating Federal Funding for Water Projects

27:32 EPA's New PFAS Regulations and Industry Response