The Trump Administration’s Data Center Push Could Open the Door for New Forever Chemicals

The Trump administration has initiated a policy shift at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) aimed at accelerating the review and approval of new chemicals, particularly those intended for use in data centers and related technological infrastructure. This move is part of a broader deregulatory agenda to promote American manufacturing and technological dominance by reducing regulatory hurdles. The EPA has created a program to fast-track chemicals meeting certain criteria, with officials asserting that the standard scientific review process and risk thresholds will remain intact. However, critics, including former EPA officials, warn that this approach could lead to the rapid approval of potentially harmful "forever chemicals" with limited oversight, due to loopholes and political pressure that may encourage shortcuts in safety evaluations. While experts note that typical chemicals used in data centers—such as lubricants, fire suppressants, and water treatment agents—are not unique and already widely employed in various industries, concerns focus on the possibility that new, less-regulated chemicals could be introduced under this expedited process. The policy's reliance on