A newly obtained trove of documents has revealed how the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under Donald Trump relied on industry-funded science to weaken regulations on formaldehyde, a common carcinogen used in consumer products. The Biden administration had determined in late 2024 that any exposure to formaldehyde increases cancer risk, but the Trump EPA reversed that finding in 2025, replacing it with less protective limits.
Documents obtained by the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) show the justification for the rollback largely relied on studies led by Rory Conolly, a chemical industry scientist whose research was funded by trade groups. Between 2008 and 2024, the EPA had previously dismissed Conolly's work as outdated or unreliable. The Trump EPA, however, changed risk levels to align with his threshold of 0.3 parts per million (ppm), claiming that protecting against sensory irritation also protects against cancer.
The documents also reveal a three-day meeting in 2023 between the EPA and major formaldehyde producers, where Conolly presented. Maria Doa, a former EPA scientist now with EDF, said: 'Much of industry and the Trump EPA claims were based on what Conolly did. The bottom line is money – and that they want limited regulations on the chemicals they are making.'
The EPA defended its decision, stating that the Biden administration used 'flawed analyses' and that the new assessment 'strengthens protections by relying on gold standard science'. Critics argue the move sets a dangerous precedent. Erik Olson of the Natural Resources Defense Council Action Fund warned: 'The EPA has established a pathway that could be used to weaken regulations around every carcinogen. Watch out – there are a lot of other carcinogens that industry wants to pick off.'
