EPA Announces $26 Million to Reduce Exposure to Toxic Lead at Schools and Child Care Facilities

EPA Announces $26 Million to Reduce Exposure to Toxic Lead at Schools and Child Care Facilities

October 29, 2026

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced $26 million in funding for states and territories to address lead in drinking water at schools and child care facilities. This action accelerates progress reducing exposure to lead, which is known to be a dangerous neurotoxin that is especially harmful to children. Since 2018, EPA has provided over $300 million through this grant program to help reduce exposure to lead in drinking water where children learn and play. This investment has helped nearly 33,000 child care facilities and more than 18,000 schools test their water for lead while advancing work to address lead pipes or fixtures at over 2,400 child care facilities and 4,200 schools.

Providing clean, safe drinking water is a top priority under EPA's "Powering the Great American Comeback" initiative and reducing exposure to lead is central to the Trump administration's pledge to Make America Healthy Again.

"October is Children's Health Month, and the Trump EPA is racking up another MAHA win by providing $26 million in funding for programs that help identify and address lead in drinking water at schools and child care facilities," said EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin. "Parents should be focused on the quality of the education their children are receiving at school, not having to worry about lead exposure and the safety of their drinking water. EPA is committed to working with our state and local partners to address lead exposure in schools and keep kids safe."

EPA will allocate grant funding to states and territories through the Reducing Lead Where Children Learn Grant Program (also known as: Voluntary School and Child Care Lead Testing and Reduction Grant Program). Total allotment amounts for each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and four territories are available on the WIIN Grant: Reducing Lead Where Children Learn Grant Program webpage. Tribal allotments for this program will be released separately.

The Trump EPA is committed to protecting children across America from lead in drinking water where they learn and play. In addition to this grant program, EPA's Training, Testing, and Taking Action program (3Ts) provides information and recommendations to help states and local authorities build voluntary programs to reduce lead in drinking water at schools and child care facilities.

EPA is taking on lead in drinking water holistically, including prioritizing collaboration, practical implementation, and communication. The agency recently published a revamped lead website, available at epa.gov/lead, including a new StoryMap about Lead and Children's Health. The streamlined website allows parents and caregivers, contractors, health care professionals, and other users to quickly find critical information on how to prevent exposures from lead. This is one of many actions being undertaken by EPA under the government-wide Federal Lead Action Plan, which was launched in President Trump's first term as a blueprint for reducing lead exposure through collaboration among federal agencies.

Background
Since the 1970s, EPA has worked alongside partners at the federal, state, Tribal, and local levels to protect children's health and make progress in reducing lead exposures and lead-related health risks. Despite improvements over the last 50 years, ongoing exposures to lead where our families live, work, and play present a health risk, especially to children.

To combat this issue, in 2025 the Trump EPA reestablished a committee of senior leaders across the agency's program offices and ten regions to drive success in reducing children's exposure to lead. This renewed agency-wide focus is centered around strengthening cooperative federalism, streamlining actionable risk communications, and unleashing private sector innovation to protect human health and the environment.

Please see epa.gov/lead for additional information.