Gillibrand Secures $40.5 Million To Combat PFAS Contamination In New York

May 20, 2026

Funding Will Help Ensure That New Yorkers Have Safe Drinking Water

Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), a member of the Senate Appropriations Interior and Environment Subcommittee, announced $40,525,000 in federal funding to combat per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination in New York. This funding will help protect New York's drinking water by funding testing and infrastructure projects that address PFAS and other emerging contaminants.

"Safe, clean drinking water is a fundamental right for every New Yorker," said Senator Gillibrand. "This critical funding will empower New York communities to test their water for PFAS and other dangerous chemicals, and it will help support investments in the infrastructure needed to guarantee clean water for generations to come. While the Trump administration has taken an ax to the very programs designed to protect our water, I've been fighting on the Senate Appropriations Interior and Environment Subcommittee for the release of funding to combat PFAS contamination. I am pleased that this funding is finally on its way to New York, and I will keep working to make sure our state has the resources we need to combat PFAS contamination and protect public health."

PFAS chemicals are widespread contaminants found in many industrial applications, firefighting foam, and a variety of consumer products. PFAS exposure is linked to an array of health problems, including various cancers, reduced immune function, reproductive challenges, birth defects, thyroid problems, and more. According to the Environmental Working Group, over 1.3 million New Yorkers have concerning levels of PFAS in their drinking water.

Senator Gillibrand has fought for the release of funding to combat PFAS contamination through her position on the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

This funding comes through the Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities (EC-SDC) grant, which is funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that President Joe Biden signed into law in 2021. This program is a $5 billion national investment over five years that helps communities address PFAS and other emerging contaminants.

While Gillibrand has worked to protect water from PFAS contamination, the Trump administration has cut and undermined many of the programs and rules designed to combat PFAS. Earlier this week, the EPA proposed repealing limits on dangerous contaminants like PFAS in drinking water.

Senator Gillibrand has long advocated for and championed legislation to protect the public from dangerous PFAS chemicals. Most recently, she has introduced the Clean Water Standards for PFAS Act, the PFAS Accountability Act, and the bipartisan DOD PFAS Discharge Prevention Act. In previous years, she successfully pushed to phase out DOD's use of firefighting foam containing PFAS, and she passed legislation to expedite the testing, cleanup, and remediation of PFAS at some of the most contaminated U.S. military installations.

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