Defense Department Delays Cleanup of ‘Forever Chemicals’ Nationwide

The new timeline could slow cleanup in some communities by nearly a decade. The chemicals, widely used in the military, are linked to cancers and other health risks.

Hiroko Tabuchi

By Hiroko Tabuchi (The New York Times)

Sept. 23, 2025

The Department of Defense has quietly delayed its cleanup of harmful “forever chemicals” at nearly 140 military installations across the country, according to a list of sites analyzed by The New York Times.

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