FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 3, 2026
CONTACT:
Aaron Bharucha, Public Relations Associate
(509) 429-1699 and epn-press@environmentalprotectionnetwork.org
Poll: Americans Want Stronger Protections from Chemicals and Pollution because They Can’t Afford to Get Sick
Large majorities of Americans — including the president’s core supporters — want EPA to do more to protect health, hold polluters accountable, and stop pollution costs from being shifted onto families
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, former EPA staff at the non-partisan Environmental Protection Network (EPN) released the findings of a nationwide YouGov survey of 2,025 registered voters.
The survey found that Americans across the country want stronger EPA protections against toxic chemicals and harmful pollution that threaten their health and increase medical costs. The findings also show Americans increasingly see toxic chemical exposure, air pollution, and unsafe drinking water as direct threats to their health and long-term medical costs.
Concerns about toxic exposures, chronic disease, pollution-related health risks, and corporate influence at EPA are especially high among working-class Americans who can’t afford to get sick. These concerns extend to constituencies — including Trump’s core supporters, independents, rural Americans, and young men – who are not generally viewed as environmentalists.
“Americans are tired of getting sick and paying more for healthcare because of toxic chemicals and pollution in our water, air, and food,” said Michelle Roos, Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Network. “This survey shatters the myth that Americans are politically divided when it comes to holding polluters accountable and protecting our health. Regardless of what hat you wear or what sign you carry, we all want the Environmental Protection Agency to put our health first and stand up to the companies putting these chemicals and pollution into our lives.”
“We found unusually high levels of concern about any efforts to weaken health protections at EPA, even among Trump’s core supporters,” said John Ray, Senior Director at YouGOV, which conducted the survey. “It’s not really an issue debate as much as it is an awareness gap. When people hear about cutbacks at EPA, they don’t like it.”
“EPA’s current political leadership is betting that the public will not connect the dots,” added Michelle Roos. “This poll shows EPA’s current direction is badly out of step with what Americans expect from the agency. That is why former EPA staff will continue to speak up and tell the truth about what is happening and what it means for families.”
Key Findings – April 2026 YouGov-EPN Opinion Survey
of US Registered Voters
The nationwide survey of 2,025 registered voters, conducted April 22-27 by YouGov on behalf of Environmental Protection network, is the most extensive study commissioned by EPN to date on public views regarding the work of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Toxic Chemicals and Pollution are Pocketbook Issues
The rising cost of living and soaring healthcare expenses are top of mind issues for Americans, and most Americans can’t afford to get sick.
- 81% of Americans believe the burden of pollution is shifting onto families through medical bills and long-term health consequences.
Americans Want a Stronger EPA
While most Americans see EPA as having a positive impact on their daily lives, they want the agency to do more to protect their health.
- By a 7-to-1 margin, Americans want EPA to be strengthened or expanded rather than weakened.
President Trump’s Core Supporters Are Concerned He is Soft on Polluters
The survey found robust bipartisan support for EPA holding polluters accountable, regardless of Americans’ opinions of President Trump himself:
- Among Americans who approve of President Trump’s overall job performance:
- 82% of Trump supporters believe President Trump should be tougher on polluters.
- 90% of Trump supporters believe EPA should monitor air and water pollution.
- 88% of Trump supporters believe EPA should ensure the safety of chemicals.
- 85% of Trump supporters believe EPA should ensure clean air and clean water for all communities.
- 84% of Trump supporters believe EPA should conduct scientific research on chemicals and environmental threats.
- 83% of Trump supporters believe EPA should ensure corporations comply with environmental laws
- Among Americans who voted for President Trump in 2024:
- 41% of Trump’s 2024 supporters view his handling of the EPA less favorably than they view his overall job performance as president.
- 35% of Trump’s 2024 supporters do not think that Trump has kept his promise to deliver the cleanest air and water, or are unsure.
Americans Reject Environmental Deregulation
- By an 8-to-1 margin, Americans believe the EPA should prioritize protecting public health from toxic chemicals and pollution over reducing regulations—even if it means higher costs.
Concerns About Toxic Chemicals and Pollution Are Widely Shared, Extending Well Beyond Traditional Environmentalist Profiles
Large bipartisan majorities are concerned about toxic chemicals and harmful pollution in drinking water, food, consumer products, and the air they breathe.
These concerns extend to constituencies — including Trump’s core supporters, independents, rural Americans, and young men – who are not generally viewed as environmentalists.
Concerns about toxic exposures, chronic disease, pollution-related health risks, and corporate influence at EPA are also high among working-class Americans who can’t afford to get sick.
Concerns About Chemical Safety Are High
Even though this survey was conducted before the deadly chemical disaster in Washington state, Americans were already concerned about chemical safety.
- 91% of Americans want EPA to ensure the safety of chemicals that are used where we live, work and play.
Americans Reject Administrator Zeldin’s Data Center Push
The survey highlights a profound misalignment between the public’s desires and the agency’s current leadership direction under EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin:
- Overwhelming numbers of Americans believe the EPA should be holding polluters accountable, conducting scientific research, and protecting communities disproportionately impacted by pollution.
- In contrast, only 16% of Americans believe the EPA should work on making America the “AI capital of the world,” despite it being a signature pillar of Administrator Zeldin’s EPA agenda.
- 63% of Americans are very concerned that EPA may fast track approval of new data centers without the usual pollution safeguards.
Americans Face an Awareness Gap but Trust Experts who Previously Worked at EPA
Despite widespread public support for the EPA’s mission, the poll revealed that a sizable segment of the public has heard only a little, or nothing at all, about the recent changes to the agency under the Trump administration.
- 35% of voters are not sure if EPA is heading in the right direction or wrong direction.
- Among Americans that have not been closely following events at EPA, scientists and former EPA staff were identified as the top two (among 20 options) most trusted sources of information on chemicals and pollution.
- People are ready to spread the word: At the end of the survey, all respondents were asked if they were likely to take various actions. 65% indicated they were likely to share information with friends or family.
The YouGov poll deck and methodology is available here. Expanded survey findings are available here.
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ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION NETWORK
The Environmental Protection Network is a nonpartisan organization comprising more than 750 former EPA scientists, toxicologists, chemists, biologists, engineers, and policy analysts — many of whom spent decades as career experts inside the agency. They assessed cancer and developmental risks, studied links between pollution and fertility and chronic disease, investigated contaminated communities, and brought enforcement actions to hold corporate polluters accountable. EPN was founded in 2017 to serve as an independent voice promoting science-based policies that protect Americans’ health.