Looming Government Shutdown Could Disrupt Chemical Regulation Under TSCA

As Congress edges closer to another potential government shutdown, questions loom large about how federal agencies will manage critical regulatory responsibilities. For the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), even a short lapse in appropriations and critical staffing could have significant consequences for the implementation of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).

TSCA is built around statutory deadlines. For example, there are strict timelines for new chemical reviews under Section 5 and for ongoing risk evaluations and risk management rules under Section 6. EPA is also subject to several court ordered deadlines as a result of settled lawsuits. A shutdown would likely halt or at the least slow many of these activities, creating ripple effects that extend well beyond the duration of the funding lapse. Unlike discretionary programs, many of EPA's core chemical safety functions cannot simply be paused without consequence.