Trump Delivers $10M Health Study While East Palestine Still Waits for Biden

Paul Riverbank, 6/20/2025Trump administration funds crucial health study for East Palestine residents still awaiting federal aid.

I've spent considerable time following this story, watching as it transformed from a local crisis into a national conversation about corporate accountability and environmental justice. Now, the Trump administration has stepped forward with a $10 million research initiative that might finally provide some clarity about the disaster's health impacts.

What strikes me most about this development isn't just the dollar amount – though $2 million annual installments over five years is significant. It's the involvement of some unexpected figures. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya are spearheading this effort, bringing their considerable expertise to bear on a community that's felt forgotten by Washington.

Vice President JD Vance's return to East Palestine wasn't just symbolic. Standing in the village firehouse – the same building that served as an emergency command center during those chaotic first days – he delivered what many residents told me they needed to hear: "This community will not be forgotten."

Let's be clear about what happened that February day in 2023. When 38 train cars jumped the tracks, 11 of them were carrying what nobody wants in their backyard – vinyl chloride and benzene residue. The decision to conduct a controlled burn created what witnesses described as an apocalyptic scene: a toxic mushroom cloud looming over their village.

The aftermath was brutal. Dead animals. Contaminated water. Residents struggling with headaches and breathing problems. The EPA's initial findings only confirmed what many feared – dangerous levels of multiple chemicals hanging in the air they breathed.

What makes this new research initiative particularly noteworthy is its timing. It comes on the heels of a troubling June 2024 NTSB report suggesting the controlled burn – that dramatic solution that sent toxic clouds skyward – might have been unnecessary. Norfolk Southern, it seems, provided "incomplete and misleading information" that led to that fateful decision.

Governor Mike DeWine's support for the initiative reflects what I've heard from many Ohio officials – there's a desperate need for concrete scientific evidence about long-term health risks. The July 21 deadline for research proposals adds urgency to a situation that's already dragged on far too long.

As someone who's covered countless political initiatives, what stands out here is the rare bipartisan agreement. When Republican State Rep. Mike Rulli praises the administration's leadership, it's a reminder that some issues transcend the usual political divisions.

For the people of East Palestine, this research initiative represents more than just federal dollars – it's recognition of their ongoing struggle and a step toward the answers they deserve. Whether those answers will bring comfort or concern remains to be seen, but at least now they know they won't have to face them alone.

The residents of East Palestine, Ohio marked a somber milestone this week – two years since the Norfolk Southern derailment upended their lives. But this anniversary brought something many had been desperately seeking: answers.I've spent considerable time following this story, watching as it transformed from a local crisis into a national conversation about corporate accountability and environmental justice. Now, the Trump administration has stepped forward with a $10 million research initiative that might finally provide some clarity about the disaster's health impacts.What strikes me most about this development isn't just the dollar amount – though $2 million annual installments over five years is significant. It's the involvement of some unexpected figures. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya are spearheading this effort, bringing their considerable expertise to bear on a community that's felt forgotten by Washington.Vice President JD Vance's return to East Palestine wasn't just symbolic. Standing in the village firehouse – the same building that served as an emergency command center during those chaotic first days – he delivered what many residents told me they needed to hear: "This community will not be forgotten."Let's be clear about what happened that February day in 2023. When 38 train cars jumped the tracks, 11 of them were carrying what nobody wants in their backyard – vinyl chloride and benzene residue. The decision to conduct a controlled burn created what witnesses described as an apocalyptic scene: a toxic mushroom cloud looming over their village.The aftermath was brutal. Dead animals. Contaminated water. Residents struggling with headaches and breathing problems. The EPA's initial findings only confirmed what many feared – dangerous levels of multiple chemicals hanging in the air they breathed.What makes this new research initiative particularly noteworthy is its timing. It comes on the heels of a troubling June 2024 NTSB report suggesting the controlled burn – that dramatic solution that sent toxic clouds skyward – might have been unnecessary. Norfolk Southern, it seems, provided "incomplete and misleading information" that led to that fateful decision.Governor Mike DeWine's support for the initiative reflects what I've heard from many Ohio officials – there's a desperate need for concrete scientific evidence about long-term health risks. The July 21 deadline for research proposals adds urgency to a situation that's already dragged on far too long.As someone who's covered countless political initiatives, what stands out here is the rare bipartisan agreement. When Republican State Rep. Mike Rulli praises the administration's leadership, it's a reminder that some issues transcend the usual political divisions.For the people of East Palestine, this research initiative represents more than just federal dollars – it's recognition of their ongoing struggle and a step toward the answers they deserve. Whether those answers will bring comfort or concern remains to be seen, but at least now they know they won't have to face them alone.