Biden’s Superfund program faces funding challenges as polluter taxes fall short amid election-year politics.

The Biden administration has boosted EPA’s Superfund program with billions of dollars, but an unexpected shortfall for “polluter pays” taxes and election-year politics may hinder cleanups in the program. The final wave of funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act was sent out earlier this year, but Republican lawmakers and a potential second Trump administration may block President Joe Biden’s environmental agenda. EPA’s budget documents show that more than $1.2 billion in total Superfund tax receipts for fiscal 2024, less than half of the $2.5 billion that was previously estimated for that year, and predictions for tax receipts are also down. Lisa Frank, executive director of Environment America’�s Washington legislative office, said that increased funding for Superfund has reinvigorated the program but could slow progress if the ‘polluters pays’ taxes continue to fall short. She also highlighted that Superfund is still receiving more funding than it did in previous years.