Overview

• The EPA announced in June 2025 that it will reconsider the comprehensive ban on chrysotile asbestos imposed in March 2024 by instituting a 30-month review period before the phase-out begins.
• This move forms part of a broader deregulatory agenda under Administrator Lee Zeldin, which has also targeted PFAS restrictions and greenhouse gas regulations.
• Health advocates warn that thousands of Americans die each year from asbestos-related diseases and that delaying the ban could heighten public exposure to carcinogenic risks.
• Roughly a quarter of U.S. asbestos imports come directly from Russia, the world’s largest producer, fueling concerns that the review serves foreign industry interests.
• Lawmakers and public health groups have decried the proposal as a “pro-Putin” policy that prioritizes industrial lobbying over safety measures.