Vice President JD Vance this week announced a new multi-million-dollar federal initiative to investigate the long-term health effects of the 2023 train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, responding to ongoing concerns from the affected community.
The derailment of a Norfolk Southern freight train in February 2023 released toxic chemicals into the air, water, and soil of the small Ohio town — raising health concerns that have gone unanswered for more than two years.
CatholicVote previously reported on Vance’s visit to the town earlier this year, where he marked the second anniversary of the derailment by assuring residents, “This community will not be forgotten.”
In a June 19 X post announcing the new investigative initiative, Vance reflected on his past visits to East Palestine and the community’s ongoing fears about long-term health effects.
“They’re very worried about what are the long-term impacts of these chemicals in the water, in the air,” he said. “What effect does it have on their kids and grandkids after 5 years, 10 years, 15 years of exposure?”
Despite efforts to collaborate with the previous administration, the vice president said, “They refused to do anything to actually study the effects of these long-term exposures.”
Joined by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Jay Bhattacharya, Vance outlined plans for a $10 million, five-year research program led by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
“We’re finally going to study the effects on these chemicals and finally get to the bottom of what effect this terrible train crash and the ensuing consequences had on the people of East Palestine,” Vance said.
He credited the current administration and new health leadership with taking steps to launch the long-awaited study.
In the announcement, Kennedy emphasized the urgency of the effort, noting that many Americans have “already forgotten” about the disaster, even as East Palestine residents continue to face uncertainty.
He described how symptoms like headaches, respiratory issues, and skin and eye irritation began appearing almost immediately after the derailment, raising serious concerns about long-term impacts — particularly for maternal and child health.
“This is the first large-scale, coordinated, multi-year federal study focused specifically on the long-term impacts of the East Palestinian disaster,” Kennedy said, describing the NIH-led initiative as a critical step toward understanding and addressing the health fallout.
According to Kennedy, the program will involve robust community engagement alongside public health monitoring, including tracking and surveillance of local health conditions to inform medical decisions and preventive care.
NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya noted the program’s community-led nature.
“The purpose and goal of the mission is to advance the East Palestinian people,” he said.
He stressed the importance of coordinated communication between researchers, local health departments, clinicians, and residents, saying the initiative aims to ensure they are “listened to, cared for, and they get the answers they deserve.”
The NIH will accept research proposals through July 21, with studies expected to begin this fall.
“No one has tried to do this in this particular way,” Vance said, expressing hope that the research could benefit not only East Palestine but millions of Americans exposed to industrial chemicals nationwide.
