Trump Administration Once Again Delays Critical Lead Pipe Replacement Funds for Massachusetts
Massachusetts lead service line replacement program forced to pause
BOSTON – The Trump Administration has delayed announcement of any new Lead Service Line Replacement (LSLR) grants and there is no timeline for when funding might be released. Since 2022, Massachusetts has provided over $102 million to approximately 160 communities and public water systems to identify and replace lead service lines. As a result of this delay, Massachusetts is forced to pause the Lead Service Line Identification and Replacement Planning Grant Program.
“Massachusetts has some of the oldest housing stock and water infrastructure in the nation, and lead service lines remain a threat to public health, particularly for young children,” said Governor Maura Healey. “The Trump Administration fails to understand the importance of supporting local projects to get lead out of our drinking water. This funding stimulates the economy with construction jobs, replaces outdated infrastructure, and most importantly ensures that residents are drinking safe, clean water. The delay and uncertainty with announcing the new allotments has forced us to pause our Lead Service Line Replacement Program and pause these much-needed projects.”
“Once again, the Trump administration is delaying urgently needed funds and putting the health and safety of our children and their families at risk,” said State Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg, Chair of the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust. “These resources are essential to addressing a serious public health crisis. I strongly urge the EPA to release this critical funding to protect the wellbeing of people throughout every one of our communities.”
Municipalities and water systems are working toward complying with recent federal requirements to identify lead service lines that remain in use. 70 inventories were recently completed using grant funding, and another 84 are nearly complete. Those communities with identified lead service lines are expected to submit applications for replacement construction projects in the near future. The Trump Administration’s funding pause will unnecessarily delay this critical work to detect and remove lead from drinking water systems.
The Massachusetts Clean Water Trust and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection offer 0% interest construction loans for lead service line replacement and planning grants for assisting public water suppliers with completing planning projects for lead service line inventories and replacement programs. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) allocates funding to the Trust’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund and MassDEP and the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust implements the program by selecting priority projects and partnering with municipalities and other recipients to ensure these critical infrastructure projects are completed as planned.
In March 2025, Governor Healey, Attorney General Campbell and Treasurer Goldberg condemned the Trump Administration for delaying the 2024 Lead Grant allocation amount of $50.1 million to fund these critical projects
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