Radhika Fox Confirmed by Senate to Lead EPA Water Office

The Senate voted 55-43 to confirm Radhika Fox as Assistant Administrator for EPA’s Office of Water. The Senate vote included seven Republicans joining with 48 Democrats to confirm Fox. President Biden nominated Fox for the position, and she has been serving as the assistant deputy director for the Office of Water while awaiting Senate confirmation. In May, the Senate held a hearing on her nomination, where Senators questioned Fox on hot topics including lead in drinking water, per- and polyflouralkyl substances (PFAS) and Waters of the US (WOTUS).

During the hearing, Fox highlighted several priorities if she were to be confirmed for the position, including implementing the range of water infrastructure funding and financing programs, strengthening and supporting the capacity of the states and tribes, continuing work on water affordability so that infrastructure investments are affordable for individual families and water systems, addressing PFAS and emerging contaminants, and supporting the office of water staff and “rebuilding the morale.”

Fox is the former US Water Alliance CEO and is the first woman of color and first person of Asian heritage to lead the EPA Office of Water.