Congress rescues industry watchdog earmarked for closure by Trump administration
By 
Rebecca Trager2026-02-04T14:30:00
Agency has received level funding of $14 million to continue to investigate and report back on US chemical accidents
The US Congress has intervened to save the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) – an independent federal agency charged with investigating industrial chemical accidents and developing recommendations to prevent their recurrence.
The White House had proposed shutting down the CSB and eliminating its $14 million (£10 million) budget by October 2025, the official start of financial year 2026. The administration had argued that the agency ‘duplicates substantial capabilities’ in the Environmental Protection Agency and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Osha). Yet many close observers maintain the CSB has a unique role investigating chemical plant incidents and the chemical industry has said the agency’s reports and recommendations are a valuable resource.