Posted on June 30, 2025
🎙️ Audio Explainer: EPA’s Motion and Trump’s Consideration of an Asbestos Ban Reversal: Why Federal Legislation Is the Only Real Solution
Listen to the full Google Notebook recording: https://youtu.be/oPrw3qRhyAA
Let’s talk about the BIG why.
In just 13 minutes — the length of my new AI-powered audio explainer — one American will die from an asbestos-caused disease.
Asbestos Isn’t History — It’s a Present-Day Killer
Asbestos is not a relic of the past. It’s a current and deadly threat.
Every 13 minutes, someone in the U.S. dies from an asbestos-related disease.
Once praised for its fire resistance and insulation properties, asbestos is now classified by both the EPA and the World Health Organization as a known carcinogen. Even a single day of exposure can cause cancer decades later.
This isn’t speculation — it’s science.
Dr. Arthur Frank of Drexel University says:
“There is no safe level of exposure.”
How Did We Get Here?
In 1989, the EPA attempted to ban asbestos — but the profits were put before public health, and the courts overturned that rule.
Then Came the Reversal
Now, under the Trump administration, the EPA has filed a motion in the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals to reconsider the 2024 ban.
They’re requesting:
- 30 months to re-review risk and risk management
- An immediate 6-month abeyance (temporary pause), halting enforcement
- The option for further delays
This effectively puts the entire rule on hold — and signals a dangerous retreat.
Why This Moment Matters
Former EPA Administrator Michael Regan said: “Asbestos is a known carcinogen that has severe impacts on public health.”
This rule was never a full ban — just a starting point.
And now, even that’s at risk.
The Legal and Political Landscape
This isn’t just about science. It’s about industry pressure, litigation, and misinformation — especially from those pushing to weaken protections and carve out loopholes.
Then there’s the rhetoric.
Trump once claimed asbestos was “100% safe once applied” and blamed its bad reputation on “the mob.”
That kind of thinking puts lives in danger.
The Human Cost
This isn’t just policy — it’s personal.
My husband, Alan, died from mesothelioma, a cancer caused only by asbestos. And it’s not just Alan — it’s for the hundreds of thousands of ‘Alans’ who’ve been killed by asbestos. Read more in ADAO’s curated book, “Shared Stories: How Asbestos Changed Our Lives Forever.”
This fight isn’t political — it’s about protecting lives. We lose nearly 40,000 people a year in America alone due to asbestos-caused illnesses.
That’s why ADAO joined the lawsuit TCC v. EPA: to defend the 2024 rule, uphold the science, and prevent yet another generation from enduring preventable deaths.
Why the EPA Can’t Do It Alone
Even with the best intentions, the EPA faces:
- Constant litigation
- Political interference
- Constraints under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)
The agency itself admits it needs 30 more months to re-review what’s already been reviewed.
That’s not bold action — it’s regulatory paralysis. While the EPA reviews, more people are being exposed to asbestos. There is no safe level of exposure, and the only cure is prevention.
The Real Solution: Federal Legislation
We need Congress to act.
The bipartisan Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now (ARBAN) Act of 2023 would have:
- Banned all six types of asbestos
- Closed dangerous loopholes
- Prevented regulatory rollbacks
- Delivered a comprehensive, lasting solution
We’re working hard to reintroduce ARBAN in 2025 — and we need your support.
Global Momentum, U.S. Inaction
More than 70 countries — including every other developed nation — have banned asbestos.
The U.S. should lead — not lag behind.
What You Can Do
- Visit ADAO’s EVERY 13 MINUTES Website
- Call your Members of Congress — urge them to support the upcoming 2025 ARBAN.
- Share the facts. Misinformation kills.
- Tell your story. Every voice matters.
Let’s Go — Linda Reinstein
