For Trump, the “forever chemicals” in straw face significant risks; underwater, their presence is likely minimal.

On page 36 of the official national strategy document, signed by the president, 10 federal agencies are involved.

This is not a governmental policy related to tariffs or border control. It is part of President Trump’s Master Plan to Eradicate Paper Straws, leading us back to plastic.

The document states, “My administration is dedicated to clarifying the confusion that many citizens face when using paper straws.”

Critics argue this is a culture war shot, whether targeting paper straws, wind turbines, or low-flow showerheads, reflecting Trump’s erratic administration policies.

However, there’s an unexpected twist. This document complicates a larger public health issue with its intent to deregulate.

Focusing on paper straws, it dedicates eight pages to discussing health and environmental risks, particularly highlighting PFA—a group of synthetic chemicals linked to severe health problems—found in tap water nationwide.

Last year, the Biden administration implemented strict federal PFA standards, known as “forever chemicals,” which resist environmental breakdown. Yet, the industry and utility sectors challenged this, calling it “impossible” and “absurd”; they urged Trump to reverse these regulations.

It remains unclear if EPA leader Lee Zeldin will enforce these measures. A court decision is pending about whether to continue adhering to regulations ahead of a May 12 deadline.

“Will Zeldin reverse the PFAS drinking water standards given this anti-PFA rhetoric from the White House?” asked Matthew Tehada, head of environmental health policy at the Natural Resources Defense Council. “If there’s concern about straw-related PFA, can Zeldin ignore drinking water issues?”

Under Zeldin’s leadership, the agency pushes for deregulation, aiming to eliminate numerous environmental rules limiting toxic pollution. He also has strong ties as a lobbyist and lawyer against environmental laws.

During a news briefing, Zeldin commented that the science surrounding PFA “is still under debate.”

“We have more questions regarding PFA, and it’s crucial to continue research,” he stated, claiming regulations should rely more on “factual evidence rather than assumptions.”

Yet, Trump’s strategy document directly addresses chemical concerns.

“For decades, scientists and regulators have expressed concern over PFAS chemicals,” the White House document notes. “PFA poses risks to human health and is associated with reproductive harm, developmental delays in children, cancer, hormonal disturbances, obesity, and other serious health issues.”

This week, the White House reiterated these warnings. “Paper straws contain harmful PFAS chemicals that infiltrate our water supply,” as stated by the administration in an Earth Day announcement on Monday.

Another variable is Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, who participated in a forum on Wednesday discussing the health and environmental impacts of plastics, including PFA, which he advocates removing from the food system. “We have substantial justification for eliminating this entire chemical category from our food due to its health risks,” he stated.

Both the White House and the EPA affirmed their unified approach to PFA.

“President Trump and Zeldin are collaboratively working to eliminate harmful toxins from our environment,” White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers declared. “The Trump administration, including Zeldin, acknowledges that PFA is detrimental to human health. More research on PFA’s risks is essential for improving the health of Americans.”

EPA spokesperson Molly Vaseliou refrained from commenting on the potential rollback of PFAS drinking water standards but highlighted Zeldin’s significant experience with PFA issues.

Before joining the Trump administration, Zeldin served four terms as a lawmaker in Long Island and was among 23 House Republicans who supported the PFAS Act in 2020—a comprehensive bill to regulate chemicals in drinking water and hold polluters accountable.

“He stands as a strong advocate for protecting the drinking water of Long Islanders and all Americans,” Vaselio remarked.

Zeldin is correct that further investigation is crucial to understand the health effects of PFA exposure. However, evidence increasingly indicates harm from these chemicals, particularly the most studied types. Trump’s White House strategy includes references supporting this evidence.

“The EPA examined current peer-reviewed scientific studies and concluded that PFA exposure is linked to various health risks,” the document states.

This comprises lower birth rates, hypertension in pregnant women, low birth weight, early onset of puberty, behavioral changes in children, weakened immune response, and heightened cholesterol levels, according to the White House.

Plastic also contains harmful chemicals. Microplastics pervade our ecosystems and pose health risks. Critics emphasize the fossil fuel industry’s role in promoting plastics through production.

Nonetheless, Linda Billumbaum, a toxicologist and former director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, who has long warned about PFAs, acknowledged some points from the White House document. “Their claims regarding these adverse effects are well-founded,” she expressed.

However, if the Trump administration is genuinely concerned about PFA’s health impacts, they should also address the presence of these chemicals in our surroundings, including food packaging and drinking water. “Instead, they focus efforts on rallying support around straws,” she remarked.

The controversy over plastic straws began around the mid-2010s, as they became scapegoated for the plastic waste crisis. Numerous cities and retailers have instituted bans on plastic straws, while some states enacted restrictions. (Disability rights organizations have raised concerns about these bans, citing the need for straws for safe drinking.)

Alternatives to plastic include stainless steel or glass straws and lids with spouts. However, paper straws quickly gained traction as replacements, only to be criticized for collapsing when used.

During this period, scientists also began finding PFA on various paper and plant-based straws, raising alarms about exposure to harmful chemicals and their potential to contaminate water supplies.

The president has labeled Biden-era measures a “paper straw mandate,” although these initiatives did not specifically enforce a shift to paper straws.

His animosity toward paper straws dates back years, notably during the 2020 campaign, where he offered packs of 10 branded plastic straws for $15.

In his comprehensive strategy, Trump instructs federal agencies to “be innovative and utilize all available policy tools to eliminate the use of paper straws nationwide.” Moreover, “taxpayer dollars should never be squandered, so federal contracts and grants should not support paper straws or entities that prohibit plastic straws.”

Christine Figgener, a Marine Conservation Biologist (known for a viral video showing a plastic straw being removed from a turtle’s nostril), counters the argument that switching to paper is a solution, suggesting a less complex answer: avoid using straws altogether.

She criticizes straws as “a symbol of unnecessary convenience in society.” “Why is America so fixated on straws? Most people do not require them.”

Lisa Friedman contributed to this report.