The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the FCC are separately seeking information on health effects of radiofrequency exposure.
HHS issued a Request for Information seeking public comment on the potential health effects of radiofrequency and electromagnetic field exposure. The inquiry requests input on the current state of scientific research, comparisons between U.S. and international RF safety standards, critical research gaps, and evidence-based recommendations for policymakers and public health officials. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stated that the effort is being undertaken pursuant to the Administration’s “Make America Healthy Again” strategy, which directed HHS to examine research on electromagnetic radiation and health. Comments on the proceeding are expected to be due October 21, following publication of the notice in the Federal Register.
The FCC has opened a separate proceeding seeking comment on issues related to the D.C. Circuit’s 2021 decision in Environmental Health Trust v. FCC. In that case, the Environmental Health Trust (EHT), along with other public health advocates and organizations, challenged a 2019 FCC decision to retain ist 1996 standards for RF exposure. The D.C. Circuit in 2021 order the FCC “to provide a reasoned explanation for its determination that its guidelines adequately protect against harmful effects of exposure to radiofrequency radiation unrelated to cancer.” In May 2026, EHT filed a petition with the court seeking to compel the FCC to comply with the 2021 remand.
