You Don’t Have a Right to Safe Drinking Water, Trump-Appointed Judge Rules

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld dismissal of a 2022 lawsuit accusing Jackson, Mississippi, of knowingly providing lead-contaminated water, with Judge Kurt Engelhardt ruling that the U.S. Constitution offers no right to clean water or truthful information in a public-health crisis. EPA tests in 2020 documented persistent violations, including leaks, corrosion and high lead levels, while city officials delayed disclosure for six months, leading to diagnosed lead poisoning in residents, including children.