In 2023 under Joe Biden, **The EPA rejected calls for tougher regulation of large livestock farms, instead promising more study.**

The concern was for Livestock farms that release manure and other pollutants into waterways.

• Criticism for this decision

Under the Clean Water Act 💧 , EPA regulates large farms — known as Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations, or CAFOs — covered by federal pollution permits.

Federal law requires only those known to discharge waste to obtain permits, although some states make others do so.

EPA’s most recent tally, completed in May, shows 6,406 of the nation’s 21,539 CAFOs have permits. ⬅️