The effort to get benefits to American civilians exposed to toxic burn pits

NPR | By Ryan Lucas

Published July 2, 2026 at 4:48 PM EDT

A burn pit law from Congress left out thousands of American civilians working for the government who were exposed to the same toxins. Now there's an effort to change that.

Related Content

House Democrats accuse Trump of 'hijacking' America's 250th birthday for his own gain

Rachel Treisman

A 55-page report from House Democrats accuses Freedom 250 of America's birthday celebrations for profit, using questionable fundraising methods. Watchdog groups had already sounded alarms.
America 250: What's the vibe?

Frank Langfitt

As America prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary, are people excited and proud to celebrate? And how does it compare to the last major anniversary, the bicentennial in 1976?
Photos: Fans gather in the Bay Area for the World Cup match between the U.S. and Bosnia-Herzegovina

Meredith Nierman

World Cup watch parties in Santa Clara and the San Francisco Bay Area brought fans together for the United States vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina match, where the U.S. earned a 2-0 win to reach the Round of 16.
Environment

The days are hot, but so are the nights. That's a problem, experts say

Scott Neuman

As much of the Eastern U.S. experiences potentially record-breaking daytime temperatures, the nights are also staying unusually warm, leaving the human body no time to recover.
Former ethics lawyer says Trump's crypto poses 'clear conflict of interest'

A Martínez

Former White House ethics lawyer Richard Painter says President Trump "stands alone" in having substantial financial conflicts of interest and that, "for every other executive branch official, it would be a violation."

You make NHPR possible.

NHPR is nonprofit and independent. We rely on readers like you to support the local, national, and international coverage on this website. Your support makes this news available to everyone.

Give today. A monthly donation of $5 makes a real difference.