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Fact check: Who is bring back asbestos

Checked on June 23, 2025

1. Summary of the results

Based on the analyses provided, the Trump administration is bringing back asbestos through specific regulatory actions targeting the Biden-era ban on chrysotile asbestos [1] [2]. The EPA under the Trump administration has filed a motion to delay and reconsider the 2024 ban on chrysotile asbestos, which was adopted under the Biden administration [1]. This decision effectively stalls enforcement of the ban for several years and reopens the door to asbestos use [2].

The move is characterized as making "Asbestos Great Again" and is driven by industry pressure [2] [3]. A former top official with the American Chemistry Council is leading an effort within the EPA to halt the ban [4], demonstrating the direct influence of chemical industry lobbying on this policy reversal.

This policy change has significant health implications, as asbestos kills 40,000 Americans annually and chrysotile asbestos is a known carcinogen that causes mesothelioma and other serious diseases [3] [2].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks several crucial pieces of context:

  • The specific type of asbestos involved: The policy reversal specifically targets chrysotile asbestos, not all forms of asbestos [1] [2]
  • The timeline and recent nature of this development: These are very recent developments from June 2025, representing a reversal of Biden administration policies [1] [2]
  • The mechanism being used: Rather than outright legalization, the Trump administration is using regulatory delay and reconsideration tactics to effectively halt the ban [1] [2]
  • Industry influence: The chemical lobby, particularly through former American Chemistry Council officials now within the EPA, is actively working to undermine asbestos regulations [4]

Who benefits from this policy reversal:

  • Chemical industry companies that manufacture or use asbestos-containing products would benefit financially from continued legal use
  • The American Chemistry Council and related lobbying organizations gain influence and justify their existence by successfully reversing regulations
  • Companies with existing asbestos inventory would avoid disposal costs and maintain product lines

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question "Who is bring back asbestos" contains a grammatical error but is factually accurate in its premise. However, it lacks specificity that could lead to misunderstanding:

  • The question implies someone is actively "bringing back" asbestos, which could suggest it was completely banned everywhere, when in reality the situation involves reversing a specific 2024 ban on chrysotile asbestos rather than a complete historical prohibition [1]
  • The phrasing doesn't capture that this is a regulatory delay and reconsideration process rather than an immediate reversal [2]
  • It doesn't specify the recent timeline - these are developments from June 2025, making this a current policy battle rather than a historical question

The question itself doesn't contain misinformation, but its brevity obscures the complexity of the regulatory maneuvering and industry influence involved in this policy reversal.

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