- The Trump administration is reviewing fluoride’s safety in drinking water, focusing on risks to children’s health.
- Critics argue fluoride may harm IQ, thyroid function, and bone health despite CDC endorsements.
- Utah banned fluoride in public water, setting a precedent for state-led health policies.
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr., now overseeing the CDC, opposes fluoridation and supports updated scientific reviews.
- The EPA’s reassessment challenges forced mass medication through water, emphasizing informed choice and state sovereignty.
The Trump administration is prioritizing health freedom by reexamining the safety of fluoride in drinking water—an issue that has divided Americans for decades.
President Donald Trump’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), led by Administrator Lee Zeldin, announced Monday that it will conduct a formal review of fluoride’s potential health risks, particularly to children. This decision aligns with the administration’s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) initiative and reinforces its commitment to government accountability and sound science.
The move follows mounting pressure from conservative leaders, public health advocates, and independent researchers who argue that fluoride—long promoted as a cavity-preventing measure—poses serious risks, including diminished IQ in children, thyroid dysfunction, and bone fractures.
In a historic first, Utah banned fluoride in public water systems in May, setting a precedent for states seeking to reclaim control over health policy. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a vocal opponent of fluoridation, is now working closely with the EPA to ensure federal policy reflects the latest science.
A long-overdue review
For years, federal agencies like the CDC have insisted that water fluoridation is a safe and effective public health measure. However, emerging research suggests otherwise. A 2024 National Toxicology Program report found “moderate confidence” that fluoride exposure above 1.5 milligrams per liter is linked to lower IQ in children. EPA Administrator Zeldin confirmed the agency’s review will consider these findings, stating, ““Without prejudging any outcomes, when this evaluation is completed, we will have an updated foundational scientific evaluation that will inform the agency’s future steps to meet statutory obligations under the Safe Drinking Water Act.”
Kennedy, who now oversees the CDC, plans to direct the agency to cease recommending fluoridation—an extraordinary shift in federal health policy. “Fluoride is an industrial waste associated with arthritis, bone fractures, bone cancer, IQ loss, neurodevelopmental disorders, and thyroid disease,” Kennedy wrote on X last November. His stance aligns with a growing segment of the medical community questioning the practice, including Harvard researchers who in 2012 found “strong indications that fluoride may adversely affect cognitive development in children.”
States take the lead
Utah’s historic fluoride ban—signed into law by Republican Gov. Spencer Cox—marks a major victory for the MAHA movement, which emphasizes individual liberty and local governance. Despite fierce opposition from dental advocacy groups, the law, effective May 7, prohibits cities from adding fluoride to public water systems. Kennedy praised Utah’s decision, calling it a model for other states.
The EPA’s review raises another key question: Should the federal government mandate mass medication via tap water? Fluorosilicic acid, the form of fluoride commonly used, is a byproduct of industrial fertilizer production. Critics argue that forcibly adding it to water—without individual consent—violates bodily autonomy.
Siding with science and liberty
The CDC has long championed fluoridation as one of the “10 great public health achievements of the 20th century.” Yet, more than 200 million Americans consume fluoridated water daily, often without understanding the potential risks. A federal judge in California recently ruled that current fluoride levels pose an “unreasonable risk” to children, adding urgency to the EPA’s review.
This debate transcends political lines, but the Trump administration has positioned itself as the defender of informed choice. By reassessing fluoride, the EPA and HHS are challenging decades of entrenched policy—putting families first.
As the review progresses, expect fierce pushback from pro-fluoridation groups. Yet with Utah leading the charge and Kennedy at HHS, the tide may finally be turning. The Trump administration’s willingness to confront this issue underscores its commitment to dismantling flawed policies—no matter how deeply ingrained.
The Trump administration’s fluoride review signals a seismic shift in public health policy—one that prioritizes scientific scrutiny, individual rights, and state sovereignty. If successful, this effort could end the era of forced fluoridation, returning control to families and local governments. For decades, Americans were told fluoridation was harmless. Now, with mounting evidence to the contrary, the government is finally listening. As Kennedy and Zeldin spearhead this fight, one thing is clear: The future of clean, safe water may no longer include fluoride.
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