Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff is again pressing the Trump Administration about reported delays in PFAS cleanup at Georgia military installations.

Sen. Ossoff is pressing Department of Defense (DoD) Secretary Pete Hegseth to address reported delays in the cleanup and remediation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) at DoD installations in Georgia and across the country.

In 2019, reports found that Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Moody Air Force Base, and Robins Air Force Base used firefighting foam that contained significant amounts of PFAS and led to concerns about the drinking water near these installations. Last September, DoD released updated timelines for cleanup feasibility studies, including delays in Georgia of 5-20 years since the initial remediation timeline was released.

PFAS are in a class of chemicals known as "forever chemicals," and have been linked to numerous public health risks, including reduced immune function, reproductive challenges, birth defects, thyroid problems, and cancer.

The letter, led by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), follows an earlier letter from Sen. Ossoff and colleagues who wrote to Sec. Hegseth with concerns about DoD's delayed cleanup schedules last November.

"As a nation, we must stand by our servicemembers and military communities to protect them from the health impacts of PFAS," Sen. Ossoff and the group wrote. "Without a doubt, federal resources must address immediate and dangerous risks to human health and the environment. However, if not reversed, delays of this magnitude must also come with transparency, more specifics on these new timelines, an explanation as to which installations resources are being prioritized toward, and more local stakeholder engagement."

Sen. Ossoff continues working to protect Georgians from harmful chemicals and contaminants.

In May, Sens. Ossoff and Rev. Warnock and Rep. McBath brought Republicans and Democrats in Congress together to deliver Federal funding for the City of East Point to install PFAS removal filters to existing drinking water pipes, helping improve drinking water quality for families.

In April, Sens. Ossoff and Rev. Warnock brought Republicans and Democrats together to upgrade the Alcovy River Pump Station in Newton County to better serve residents in the county by mitigating the risk of exposure to PFAS and other contaminants and improving available water supply.

In 2023, Sen. Ossoff launched an inquiry with the Department of Defense to address the prevalence of chemical hazards on installations and to protect servicemembers who may have been exposed.

Click here to read Sen. Ossoff and the group's full letter.

# # #