Senate Considers Spending Bill Cutting $125M for Lead Pipe Replacement

As the Senate deliberates over a contentious spending package, a key element has stirred debate: a proposed $125 million cut in funding earmarked for replacing toxic lead pipes. This adjustment is part of a broader appropriation bill passed by the House of Representatives, which affects various sectors of the federal government, including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The proposed bill, encapsulating three of the twelve appropriations required, seeks to reallocate funds initially set aside by the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. This legislation, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, advanced under the Biden administration, committed $15 billion over five years to replace service lines composed of lead—a material known for its harmful cognitive and developmental health impacts.

Following a delayed release in November, the EPA allocated nearly $3 billion for 2025, with Illinois receiving the largest share due to its high number of lead pipes. Another $3 billion was scheduled for distribution this year. However, the suggested budget cut would redirect $125 million from lead pipe replacement to wildland fire management, a move that has sparked concerns among safe drinking water advocates and some legislators.

U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) voiced her disapproval, stating, “We are facing a water crisis, and I’m disappointed that money appropriated by the IIJA for lead pipe replacement is being repurposed by this legislation.” She emphasized the necessity of maintaining funding to ensure clean water for all Americans.

While the EPA did not comment on the legislation, a spokesperson highlighted the agency’s commitment to accelerating the identification and removal of lead pipes delivering water to various facilities.

President Donald Trump previously attempted to significantly reduce funding for drinking water initiatives, but these proposals were rejected by Congress. An earlier version of the current bill sought to cut $250 million for lead pipe replacement, a move that faced opposition from House Democrats, who successfully reduced the cut to $125 million.

Key figures like Julian Gonzalez from Earthjustice have acknowledged the reduction in cuts as a partial victory but labeled it “bittersweet,” stressing that any funding reduction impacts communities significantly. Mary Grant of Food & Water Watch emphasized that “every dollar of federal support” is crucial for communities dealing with lead pipes, arguing that cuts lack justification.

Estimates suggest the broader cost of replacing lead service lines ranges from $45 billion to $90 billion, with significant federal funding cuts expected to affect cities like Chicago profoundly. Illinois officials have already appealed for increased federal assistance to address their lead pipe issues.

The EPA, in a recent update, revised its national estimate of lead service lines from 9 million to 4 million, a change that has been met with skepticism by some drinking water advocates. Despite these criticisms, the EPA maintains that their new methodology, based on comprehensive state-submitted data, is robust and reliable.

Erik D. Olson of the Natural Resources Defense Council warned against using the reduced estimates to justify funding cuts, arguing that the health and economic benefits of pipe replacement far outweigh the costs.