Illinois Lawmakers Slam Feds Over $3 Billion in Stalled Lead Pipe Replacement Funds
A group of seven Illinois congressmen led by Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi has written a scathing letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, accusing the federal government of withholding $3 billion in funds meant to replace toxic lead service lines that supply drinking water to homes nationwide.
The congressmen claim that this delay is a blatant politicization of federal resources, targeting Democrat-led states and putting children and families at risk. They argue that these funds are not partisan tools, but "vital lifelines intended to serve all Americans." The group has warned that the EPA's decision to withhold the funding constitutes a "dangerous abuse of power" that undermines public trust.
Illinois is among the states with the most lead service lines, and the move comes as communities across the country grapple with the overwhelming cost of removing hazardous metal piping from water systems. President Donald Trump's administration has already withheld congressionally appropriated funding for energy and infrastructure projects from Democrat-led states.
The Biden-era Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act promised to deliver a massive $50 billion upgrade to the nation's drinking water infrastructure, including $15 billion for lead pipe replacements to be disbursed over five years. However, Illinois lawmakers claim that $3 billion of this allocated funds has yet to be released.
An EPA spokesperson has stated that the agency is "actively working on" the funding, but the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency did not disclose how much money the state is missing. The Chicago Department of Water Management received $14 million from the state agency for the 2025 financial year and was approved for $28 million for next year.
The city's estimated replacement cost for lead service lines alone is $12 billion or more, with statewide costs potentially reaching $14 billion. Illinois Representative Krishnamoorthi emphasized that the federal component of these funds is crucial to initiate the replacement process.
"This is impacting people's health," said Chakena Sims, a senior policy advocate with Natural Resources Defense Council. "Lead is toxic and dangerous to human health. The EPA advises that there is no safe level of lead exposure."
A group of seven Illinois congressmen led by Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi has written a scathing letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, accusing the federal government of withholding $3 billion in funds meant to replace toxic lead service lines that supply drinking water to homes nationwide.
The congressmen claim that this delay is a blatant politicization of federal resources, targeting Democrat-led states and putting children and families at risk. They argue that these funds are not partisan tools, but "vital lifelines intended to serve all Americans." The group has warned that the EPA's decision to withhold the funding constitutes a "dangerous abuse of power" that undermines public trust.
Illinois is among the states with the most lead service lines, and the move comes as communities across the country grapple with the overwhelming cost of removing hazardous metal piping from water systems. President Donald Trump's administration has already withheld congressionally appropriated funding for energy and infrastructure projects from Democrat-led states.
The Biden-era Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act promised to deliver a massive $50 billion upgrade to the nation's drinking water infrastructure, including $15 billion for lead pipe replacements to be disbursed over five years. However, Illinois lawmakers claim that $3 billion of this allocated funds has yet to be released.
An EPA spokesperson has stated that the agency is "actively working on" the funding, but the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency did not disclose how much money the state is missing. The Chicago Department of Water Management received $14 million from the state agency for the 2025 financial year and was approved for $28 million for next year.
The city's estimated replacement cost for lead service lines alone is $12 billion or more, with statewide costs potentially reaching $14 billion. Illinois Representative Krishnamoorthi emphasized that the federal component of these funds is crucial to initiate the replacement process.
"This is impacting people's health," said Chakena Sims, a senior policy advocate with Natural Resources Defense Council. "Lead is toxic and dangerous to human health. The EPA advises that there is no safe level of lead exposure."
what's the hold up on replacing toxic lead pipes? 
don't they know kids are drinking from these pipes?! 
the gov't is supposed to serve all americans, not just their own pockets 
meanwhile, cities are stuck with a massive bill of $12 billion+ to fix this mess 
guess that's what they mean by "vital lifelines" 
. The EPA should know better than to mess with people's health like this. What's next? Are they gonna tell people their house is safe if it's got a leaky roof or something?! 
This whole thing is just nuts...
cant believe feds r holdin up 3 billion bucks for lead pipe replacement its like they dont care bout kids & fams in democrat states 
this isnt politics its people's lives we need those funds stat or ppl will be sufferin from toxic water 
the city of chicago needs that money ASAP $12 billion is a huge sum & thats just chicago alone think about all the other states with lead service lines 
we cant afford 2 wait for epa 2 figure out wht 2 do 
, can't believe the feds are stalling on this one! $3 billion of funds meant for replacing toxic lead service lines... what's the hold up? It's not like they're just playing politics, it's people's health and safety we're talking about. Illinois is already struggling with the cost of removals, and now they're being told to wait even longer. 
It's all about playing hardball with the Democrats. Can't we just get this done? 
Those lead pipes are a serious health risk and it's like the feds are putting profits over people. 
The fact that Illinois is one of the states with the most lead service lines makes it even more messed up. We need those funds to start replacing those toxic pipes ASAP! 
Can we please get some answers on why this funding isn't being released? 