May 31, 2026Back-to-Back Chemical Disasters Strike as Trump Seeks to Roll Back Safety Rules

Two major incidents at chemical plants within the past week sent tens of thousands fleeing from their homes in California and left 11 people dead in Washington. But despite a spate of similar incidents over the last year, the Trump Administration is planning to roll back federal regulations designed to prevent similar disasters. Experts and environmental groups have warned that such a move would make chemical accidents far more common. According to the Coalition to Prevent Chemical Disasters—a group of environmental justice, labor, public health, national security, and environmental organizations—at least 215 dangerous chemical incidents occurred in 2025, including fires, explosions, and toxic releases. It says there have been at least 1,446 hazardous chemical incidents in the U.S. since 2021, an average of 5 incidents per week.