Biden Team HID Toxic Train Fallout?
Federal officials privately feared cancer risks from East Palestine’s toxic train derailment even as they publicly claimed residents were safe, fueling outrage over the government’s delayed response.
At a Glance
A Norfolk Southern train carrying toxic chemicals derailed in East Palestine, Ohio in February 2023.
Internal federal emails acknowledged possible “cancer clusters” despite public assurances of safety.
Transportation Secretary Buttigieg and President Biden were criticized for delayed engagement.
Norfolk Southern agreed to a $310 million settlement with the federal government.
Watchdog groups questioned EPA testing methods and public transparency.
Delay, Denial, and Distrust
The catastrophic train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, exposed troubling gaps in the federal response and reignited debates about environmental accountability. In February 2023, roughly 50 freight cars derailed, many carrying carcinogenic vinyl chloride, sparking a massive chemical fire and long-term contamination fears. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg was criticized across the aisle for waiting nearly two weeks to visit the disaster site, prompting outrage from both Democratic and Republican lawmakers.
Local officials and residents felt abandoned. “I need help. I’m not ready for this,” said East Palestine Mayor Trent Conaway at the height of the crisis. Governor Mike DeWine’s initial request for federal disaster assistance was denied, only later approved amid mounting political pressure. Public trust began to erode rapidly as official reassurances seemed increasingly disconnected from the unfolding public health emergency.
Private Warnings Contradict Public Assurances
Behind the scenes, internal emails painted a far darker picture. While EPA Administrator Michael Regan publicly insisted that residents were not in danger from air, soil, or water exposure, federal communications acknowledged the real possibility of cancer clusters. In one striking message, a federal official wrote: “The occurrence of a cancer-cluster in EP [East Palestine] is not zero”—a dramatic departure from public claims of safety.
Watchdog groups slammed the EPA’s data collection practices, arguing that flawed monitoring techniques and inappropriate contractors compromised testing accuracy. Residents, understandably skeptical, questioned why federal leaders would insist on safety while privately warning of long-term health consequences.
Watch a report: Cancer risks in East Palestine quietly acknowledged.
Cleanup, Compensation, and Continued Fallout
In May 2025, Norfolk Southern finalized a $310 million settlement with the federal government to cover environmental damages and community recovery costs. Yet that deal hasn’t put the controversy to rest. Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio emphasized that President Biden is “all-in” on holding the company accountable—but internal documents show ongoing discussions about cancer tracking nearly a year after the event.
Environmental justice advocates argue that the crisis revealed systemic failures in emergency response, transparency, and risk communication. The contradictions between what officials knew and what they told the public continue to fuel deep distrust in federal oversight.
As East Palestine rebuilds, many residents are left wondering whether the real cost of the derailment—measured in lives, not dollars—has yet to be revealed.