<p>Vice President JD Vance on Friday urged the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) inspector general to investigate the Biden administration's response to a train derailment in northeastern Ohio that resulted in the spill of toxic chemicals.</p>
<p>The train was transporting 20 cars containing hazardous materials, including at least five toxic chemicals, when it derailed in East Palestine in 2023, during Vance's tenure as an Ohio senator. Some residents reported experiencing significant health issues after more than a million pounds of vinyl chloride and other toxins were burned, releasing chemicals into the air during a controlled operation proposed by Norfolk Southern officials due to concerns that the train cars could explode.</p>
<p>Concerns have been raised regarding potential systemic failures in the response to the crisis.</p>
<p>Along with EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, Vance sent a letter to Inspector General Nicole Murley requesting oversight of the Biden administration's response to the train derailment. Vance previously encouraged federal health officials to initiate a five-year, $10 million research initiative to assess and address the long-term health outcomes related to the train derailment.</p>
<p>“The people of East Palestine deserve a government that is transparent and accountable to them,” Vance stated in a post on X, highlighting the letter. “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.”</p>
<p>The letter from Vance and Zeldin follows the release of documents from a government watchdog that indicated federal officials were concerned about potential casualties during the burning of the train cars. This information differs from what was publicly communicated.</p>
<p>Concerns have also been raised that federal officials lifted evacuation orders too early and permitted residents to return to homes that may still be contaminated by toxic chemicals, as the processes the EPA used to test homes were deemed inadequate for detecting all hazardous materials.</p>
<p>Earlier this week, independent testing expert Scott Smith reported that 49% of his testing samples for dioxin in East Palestine exceeded the EPA's cancer screening levels.</p>
<p>“It’s astounding in that it was suppressed,” he told NewsNation.</p>
<p>A peer-reviewed study released in June indicated that there is evidence that individuals living in close proximity to the site were still experiencing effects from toxic exposure.</p>
<p>The Government Accountability Project in June reported that individuals contracted with the EPA to respond to the disaster violated agency protocols by collecting and storing soil toxin samples in plastic bags instead of the required glass containers, which could lead to cross-contamination and inaccurate test results. A 2024 CNN analysis found that EPA officials often relied on odor alone to detect certain toxic chemicals in residents’ homes instead of using equipment, despite expert warnings that smell could be an unreliable indicator.</p>
<p>In May 2025, the Government Accountability Project raised concerns that the Biden administration downplayed data indicating the potential for cancer clusters due to toxic fumes released during the derailment, citing new documents from the Federal Emergency Management Agency obtained through the Freedom of Information Act.</p>
<p>Residents in the East Palestine area have reported menstrual issues, lung scarring, and rashes, among other health concerns, with some advised to monitor their health with a medical provider in case they develop cancer.</p>