VP Vance calls for investigation into the Biden administration’s handling of the East Palestine train derailment

WASHINGTON —

Vice President JD Vance and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin are calling for an investigation to be launched into the Biden administration’s handling of the federal government’s response to the chemical spill in East Palestine, Ohio.

The now-infamous disaster happened on Feb. 3, 2023, after a Norfolk Southern train crashed in northeastern Ohio, causing multiple toxic chemicals that the train was carrying to contaminate nearby soil and waterways in and around East Palestine.

The bulk of the spill would ultimately take months to clean up, with the EPA continuing to monitor the region to this day for signs of contamination.

In their joint letter that was sent to the EPA Office of Inspector General on Friday, Vance and Zeldin each suggested that they believe that decisions taken during the Biden administration’s response to the spill may have improperly “risk(ed) the health of people who live there and in surrounding communities.” However, the letter did not offer up any specific decisions taken by Biden or other top administration officials as examples of potential wrongdoing.

“The people of East Palestine deserve a government that is transparent and accountable to them,” said Vance on X on Friday of his request for the investigation. “If the Biden administration withheld public health risks from the community, they must be held accountable. Today, I am formally calling for an investigation into who knew what, and when.”

Zeldin echoed those sentiments, suggesting that if wrongdoing is found, he would “consider all the appropriate corrective actions available” in his capacity as EPA administrator.

“The people of East Palestine deserve certainty about their health and the safety of their community. They did not get it from the Biden EPA,” added Zeldin. “The Trump EPA is committed to correcting the mistakes of the past administration. We have done everything in our power since day one to protect human health and the environment in East Palestine, and that work will continue, guided by our commitment to gold-standard science.”

The decision now remains up to the EPA Office of Inspector General to potentially launch the probe. The inspector general is designed to serve as an independent watchdog to ensure that the agency’s workings are free of mismanagement and fraud.