The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, led by Administrator Lee Zeldin, shapes federal pollution rules and climate policy amid budget pressures and regulatory shifts.
A UN expert reports Mexico is a pollution sink for the US, with over 1,000 contaminated sites, including waste imports and industrial pollution affecting communities' health. The government faces criticism for lax standards and unchecked environmental damage, especially in sacrifice zones.
Since March 2026, Iran-linked hackers have targeted US critical infrastructure by compromising programmable logic controllers (PLCs) used in water, energy, and government sectors. The FBI, CISA, NSA, and others have issued urgent warnings about disruptions and financial losses. Separately, Russian APT28 has hijacked thousands of routers globally to intercept credentials, escalating cyber threats.
Pollution from the Tijuana River is flowing into U.S. waters, contaminating Southern California beaches, with millions of gallons of sewage-tainted water daily. U.S. and Mexican officials have signed agreements to accelerate cleanup, while concerns extend to Gibraltar’s lack of wastewater treatment.
Record‑level and near‑record May temperatures have been reported across multiple regions this week — parts of England and Russia have hit unusually high temps while the eastern US has recorded low‑90s — even as eastern Australia is facing a major rain band. Forecasts show brief, intense heat will give way to fronts or rain in most places; Australia is also seeing El Niño odds rise for winter.
The Trump administration is moving to roll back 2024 and 2029-era coal wastewater limits and renew emergency orders keeping aging coal plants running to meet rising electricity demand driven by AI data centers. Michigan’s Campbell plant is at the center of a legal challenge as federal orders to keep plants open face scrutiny for signaling an energy emergency.
New research shows wildfire emissions have reversed progress on ground-level ozone, with ozone levels rising since 2015 and linked to more than 300 premature deaths annually. The study combines satellite data, EPA records and AI models to fill monitoring gaps, warning that climate-driven fires will worsen air quality unless emissions fall.
More than 100 residents and local businesses are suing GKN Aerospace in California after a May chemical leak prompted mass evacuations. Officials say no contamination was detected, but plaintiffs accuse the company of negligent maintenance. FBI and EPA investigations have joined federal and state probes, while lawsuits seek damages and accountability.
The Supreme Court has ruled unanimously that prosecuting a marijuana user for illegal gun possession violates the Second Amendment. The decision narrows, but does not erase, the government’s power to restrict firearms for drug users, and cites a trend toward more permissive cannabis policy. The ruling centers on Ali Danial Hemani, a Texas resident charged in 2023 after FBI agents found drugs in his home.
The federal government has reached a settlement with Chemours over PFAS discharges, requiring a $22.5 million civil penalty and about $450 million in cleanup and compliance measures across West Virginia, North Carolina and New Jersey. The agreement allows continued PFAS production for commercial and military use while installing pollution controls and providing drinking-water protections.
The Supreme Court has ruled, in a 6-3 decision, that private property owners may allow or ban firearms on their premises. This follows another ruling limiting firearm restrictions in public spaces. The decision underscores ongoing debates about the Second Amendment and private property rights, with business owners retaining authority to set rules.
In a 7-2 ruling, the Supreme Court has held that federal pesticide law preempts state-law failure-to-warn claims in the Monsanto Roundup case, effectively blocking thousands of lawsuits while endorsing EPA label standards. Bayer says the decision is a win for science and farmers, but critics warn it limits remedies for those harmed by glyphosate.