National PFAS Contamination Coalition Denounces NDAA Rollbacks That Weaken PFAS Protections

National PFAS Contamination Coalition Denounces NDAA Rollbacks That Weaken PFAS Protections

The National PFAS Contamination Coalition strongly condemns provisions included in the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would weaken hard-won protections against PFAS contamination. Impacted community members and military personnel have fought tirelessly for years to secure these safeguards, only to see them threatened by legislative rollbacks that prioritize liability protection for the Department of Defense (DoD) over the health of service members and surrounding communities.

Dangerous Provisions in the NDAA

• House Bill – Sec. 314: Delays the DoD’s deadline to transition away from toxic Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) to fluorine-free firefighting foams, pushing compliance back to 2026.
• Senate Bill – Sec. 318: Reverses the ban on procurement of certain PFAS-containing products.
• Senate Bill – Sec. 319: Reverses the moratorium on incinerating PFAS, reopening the door to dangerous disposal practices that spread PFAS pollution into the air and surrounding environments.

“The first to feel the impact of these protections weakening will be military families. The NDAA should not be used as a weapon against the loved ones of our service members.” –  Said Victor Davila, co-facilitator of the National PFAS Contamination Coalition and Clean Water Director at Slingshot.

“This NDAA language is an egregious admission by the Department of Defense that they prioritize shielding themselves from accountability as Responsible Parties over protecting the very men and women who have sworn service to this country,” said Sandy Wynn-Stelt Co-facilitator, National PFAS Contamination Coalition.

“For far too long, various defense industries in the area have been improperly disposing of various legacy pollutants associated with PFAS legacy waste, landfills, Superfund Sites, and other cumulative impacts. We strongly denounce the EPA recent legal filing to withdraw and vacate the Maximum Contaminant Level of the four PFAS chemicals, and call the EPA to address generations of environmental racism and pollution burden on our community,  full cleanups, remediation, and restoration as well as the incorporation protections against the assault of the health of all Americans. EPA must put public health before corporate profits ” – Linda Robles, founder of Environmental Justice Task Force

“The danger and harm of AFFF are well known and it has caused widespread contamination and devastation. To delay compliance with phasing it out and reversing the moratorium on incineration of AFFF is negligent and defies logic. Our country continues to reel from historical use of AFFF and the consequences of its use will need expensive and comprehensive action  for decades to come. Our government should be taking the most aggressive stance to prevent the use of AFFF and to safely destroy it. And be leaders in demanding PFAS free products purchased by the government.” – Andrea Amico co-founder of Testing For Pease

Why This Matters

PFAS, known as “forever chemicals,” are linked to cancer, immune system damage, reproductive harms, and developmental problems. Military installations are already some of the most contaminated PFAS sites in the nation, with AFFF and other military uses driving widespread groundwater contamination.

Rolling back protections in the NDAA means prolonging exposure for service members and surrounding communities, while delaying meaningful accountability for polluters. These provisions also weaken national momentum toward safer firefighting alternatives and transparent cleanup.

The Coalition’s Call

The National PFAS Contamination Coalition calls for:
1. Immediate bipartisan amendments to strip these dangerous provisions from the NDAA.
2. A firm, enforceable deadline for AFFF phase-out with no further delays.
3. Permanent bans on procurement of PFAS-containing products and PFAS incineration.
4. Prioritization of the health and safety of enlisted personnel, veterans, and surrounding communities over DoD liability protection.

“Service members and their families deserve better than to be used as test subjects for toxic chemicals,” said Victor Davila, co-facilitator of the National PFAS Contamination Coalition and clean water director at Slingshot.“Congress must reject these rollbacks and put health and safety above politics and industry influence.”

About the National PFAS Contamination Coalition

The National PFAS Contamination Coalition is a grassroots alliance of community groups across the United States working to end PFAS pollution, demand corporate accountability, and secure safe drinking water for all.