(NewsNation) — President Trump’s administration Thursday announced it plans to investigate the long-term health effects of the chemical spill from the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, two years ago.
“I’m proud to announce with @SecKennedy and @NIHDirector_Jay that the Trump Administration is launching a program to study long-term health effects of the chemical spill in East Palestine, OH and help residents access the care they need,” Vice President JD Vance posted on X. “East Palestine, we will never forget you.”
The Trump administration has been highly critical of the federal response under the Biden administration to the derailment, even calling it “gross mismanagement.”
A DHS spokesperson shared that same message just weeks ago.
“Emails of FEMA ignoring a potential cancer cluster breakout in East Palestine, Ohio, under the Biden administration is yet another outrageous example of the gross mismanagement and poor treatment of Americans under the prior administration,” the spokesperson said.
In addition to FEMA’s response, a lawsuit was filed against the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) by East Palestine residents, citing the agency’s “failure to ensure proper public health response, testing, and medical support for the affected residents of East Palestine.”
The residents accused the CDC of “negligently instructing health professionals and testing facilities not to test for dioxins and other toxic chemicals, denying residents accurate diagnosis and critical medical care.”
Earlier this month, newly uncovered emails revealed authorities broke protocol when communicating risks following the train derailment and controlled burn in Ohio despite fears from residents experiencing health problems.
Just days after the incident, the Environmental Protection Agency declared the town safe for residents and allowed them to return to their homes.
Yet people in the area complained they were getting sick, experiencing rashes, nosebleeds and respiratory issues.