Environmental and community organizations filed a federal lawsuit on Friday against the Trump administration, challenging the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) approval of two chemicals used in semiconductor manufacturing. The plaintiffs argue that the agency greenlit the substances despite acknowledging potential health hazards for workers and the general public.
The legal action, brought by Earthjustice on behalf of the Sierra Club and Chips Communities United, targets consent orders issued by the EPA that authorized the chemicals' use in the semiconductor industry. According to the groups, the EPA's own assessments flagged risks such as reproductive harm, developmental issues, and even acute lethality, yet the agency proceeded with approval without fully quantifying the dangers.
“The Trump administration is rushing dangerous chemicals to market without the review or the protection that the law requires,” said Jonathan Kalmuss-Katz, senior attorney at Earthjustice, in a statement. “Here, EPA admits that it has not evaluated the full extent of these chemicals’ health risks, yet it is still sending them into communities across the country and leaving the public to discover their effects one doctor’s visit at a time.”
For the first chemical, the EPA’s consent order—attached to the lawsuit—notes potential reproductive health risks and risks to child development for the general public through exposure via drinking water or air pollution. However, the agency stated it could not calculate the exact level of risk due to “insufficient information,” but approved the chemical anyway.
For the second chemical, the EPA identified toxicity concerns for the general public and developmental and reproductive risks for workers with dermal exposure. Redacted portions of the consent orders suggest that “acute lethality”—sudden death—is the primary health concern for similar chemicals, raising alarms among the plaintiffs.
The lawsuit comes as the Trump administration pushes to accelerate the domestic semiconductor industry, a key component of its broader strategy to bolster artificial intelligence infrastructure. Last year, the EPA announced plans to expedite approvals for new chemicals used in data centers and related infrastructure, including semiconductors. That policy has drawn criticism from environmental advocates who argue it undermines safety reviews.
The Hill has reached out to the EPA for comment, but the agency has not yet responded. The case highlights ongoing tensions between industrial growth and environmental safeguards, a recurring theme in the administration's regulatory agenda.
As the legal challenge unfolds, the outcome could set precedents for how the EPA balances chemical innovation with public health protections, particularly in the rapidly expanding tech sector.
