On November 25, 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) filed a request with a federal court to overturn the 2024 limits on fine particulate matter, known as PM2.5, which are critical for public health. This request aligns the EPA with 24 states, led by Kentucky, and various industry groups, including the National Association of Manufacturers, that have initiated legal action against the EPA to reverse the established standard.

The proposed soot limits are significant due to their association with serious health issues, including asthma and cardiovascular diseases. Under President Joe Biden, the EPA had previously set a tighter annual standard of 9 micrograms per cubic meter, projected to prevent over 800,000 asthma cases, 2,000 hospital visits, and 4,500 premature deaths. In contrast, the previous administration under President Donald Trump had aimed to roll back numerous environmental regulations, including those related to soot.

Critics argue that the EPA's recent move represents a retreat from essential public health protections, with environmental advocates condemning the agency's actions as primarily benefiting the country's most polluting coal plants, such as the Colstrip Power Plant in Montana, which lacks modern pollution controls for particulate matter. Hayden Hashimoto, an attorney at the Clean Air Task Force, characterized the EPA's motion as an attempt to circumvent legal obligations associated with the rollback of a significant public health measure.

In a separate development, Dr. Ralph Abraham has been appointed as the principal deputy director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), effective November 23. This appointment was not publicly announced by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and many CDC employees reportedly learned of it only through the agency's internal database. A spokesperson for HHS confirmed Dr. Abraham's new role but did not provide additional comments.

Dr. Abraham, who previously served as Louisiana's surgeon general, has expressed skepticism about vaccinations, labeling Covid vaccines as 'dangerous.' His views align with those of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., particularly regarding the use of certain medications and vaccination practices. He has advocated against the use of Tylenol during pregnancy due to potential links to autism and has supported the cessation of routine hepatitis B immunization at birth. Furthermore, he has called for the removal of aluminum salts from vaccines, which are included to enhance immune responses.

Before his political career, Dr. Abraham practiced as both a physician and a veterinarian. He was elected to Congress in 2014, serving until his retirement in 2020. During the Covid-19 pandemic, he promoted the use of hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin, both of which have been found ineffective against the virus. His appointment raises questions about the direction of public health policy at the CDC, particularly amid ongoing debates about vaccine safety and efficacy.