On July 7th, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced that the USDA will invest $307 million to upgrade drinking water and wastewater infrastructure. Projects will be financed through the Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant program. Initiatives will include elimination of outdated piping and service lines to safeguard public health. Projects will be funded in 34 U.S. states and Puerto Rico.

In commenting on the grants, USDA Secretary Vilsack stated, "every community needs safe reliable and modern water and wastewater systems".  He added, "the consequence of decades of lack of investment in physical infrastructure have fallen most heavily on communities of color. This is why USDA is investing in water infrastructure in rural and Tribal communities that need it most".

The crisis in Flint, MI. involving lead toxicity among residents that started in 2014 and continued through 2019 as an example of deterioration in infrastructure coupled with mismanagement and indifference to public health and wellbeing.