Trump’s Opportunity to Deliver Justice: Resolving the Camp Lejeune Compensation Crisis

For several decades, victims of the Camp Lejeune water contamination crisis have been denied the compensation they deserve, despite suffering from cancers, neurological disorders, and other devastating illnesses caused by toxic exposure.

From 1953 to 1987, over a million veterans, their families, and civilians were exposed to highly toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) like TCE, PCE, vinyl chloride, and benzene in the base’s groundwater, with contamination levels far exceeding safe limits. Despite clear evidence of harm, federal officials concealed the issue, delaying action until 1987 and leaving victims without recourse for years.

The Camp Lejeune compensation crisis stands as one of the most egregious examples of government failure to address toxic exposure and deliver justice to military families. The Camp Lejeune Justice Act (CLJA) of 2022 promised a path to justice, but bureaucratic delays, aggressive litigation, and restrictive settlement criteria have left hundreds of thousands of claimants waiting, with many dying before receiving compensation.

The Trump administration, with Navy Secretary John Phelan and Defense leadership under Secretary Pete Hegseth, now has a critical opportunity to deliver justice to the veterans and families harmed by the Camp Lejeune crisis.

The Scale of the Camp Lejeune Compensation Crisis

The scale of the delay in compensating Camp Lejeune victims is a national disgrace. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, countless individuals developed and died from diseases linked to the contaminated water, yet the government failed to notify those exposed or provide preventive screenings.

Initial notifications were haphazard, with some families learning of their exposure only through researchers studying the water’s effects on children born on the base. Formal notifications, mandated by Congress in 2007, didn’t begin until 2008.

Even then, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) refused to acknowledge the link between the water and resulting diseases, denying veterans benefits. Legal efforts under the Federal Tort Claims Act were blocked by the Obama Administration’s use of technicalities, such as North Carolina’s ten-year statute of repose, leaving victims without trials or compensation by 2019.

Trump Must Reform the CLJA Claims Process

The Trump administration can break this cycle of delay and denial by reforming the claims process under the CLJA. Enacted in 2022, the CLJA was a bipartisan effort to allow victims exposed to the toxic water for at least 30 days to sue the federal government, removing prior legal barriers and setting a victim-friendly standard of proof.

Hundreds of thousands filed claims, but the Department of Justice (DOJ) has continued to aggressively litigate, even disputing diseases already linked to the water. The Department of the Navy has struggled to process claims, with inefficiencies and difficulties accessing military records from the National Archives stalling progress.

As a result, victims face ongoing delays, with many losing hope as their health worsens. The Trump administration must direct the DOJ to prioritize settlements over litigation and ensure the Navy streamlines its processes.

Fixing the Elective Option Framework

A key opportunity lies in fixing the flawed “Elective Option” settlement framework. This program was designed to expedite resolutions but has fallen short. It only offers settlements to claimants diagnosed with one of nine specific illnesses and requires a latency period of no more than 35 years since exposure.

These strict criteria exclude many victims. The Navy has also failed to scale the program effectively, resulting in only about 700 settlements in nearly two years. Many of those settlements faced attempted blocks from the Biden administration.

The Trump administration, with new Navy leadership under Secretary John Phelan, should expand the Elective Option to include more diseases and relax the latency rules. This will open access to a broader group of victims.

Simplifying record retrieval from the National Archives and dedicating more resources to claims processing will further speed up settlements. These changes can deliver long-overdue relief to suffering claimants, especially injured veterans and their families.

Restoring Trust Through DoD Accountability

The Trump administration can also leverage the Department of Defense to restore trust and accountability. By working with Congress to secure dedicated funding for Camp Lejeune settlements, the administration can ensure victims receive compensation without bureaucratic delays. Enhanced transparency, through regular updates on claims progress, will rebuild confidence among claimants.

The new Navy Secretary should oversee the creation of a robust, efficient claims system, prioritizing veterans and their families. Additionally, the Department of Defense can advocate for extending compensation eligibility to civilians harmed at Camp Lejeune, recognizing their contributions to the military and addressing the full scope of the tragedy.

Building on Congressional Action for Broader Relief

Congress took a significant step in 2012 with the Janey Ensminger Act. The legislation was part of the Honoring America’s Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act. It provided VA healthcare for 15 diseases linked to the water contamination. In 2017, the VA expanded disability benefits to include eight of those diseases.

While these measures were important, they only offered prospective healthcare and limited financial support. They failed to address past suffering or provide compensation to civilians.

The Trump administration can build on this foundation by ensuring the CLJA delivers full compensation to all victims. That includes damages for pain, suffering, and loss. Doing so will require a firm commitment to resolve claims swiftly and fairly—rather than continuing the government’s long pattern of obstruction.

The Government Must Acknowledge Its Role in the Camp Lejeune Compensation Crisis

The contamination itself, which ran from 1953 to 1987, was a catastrophic failure of oversight, with VOCs from leaks and dumping of industrial materials poisoning the base’s water supply. These chemicals caused severe health issues, including cancers, Parkinson’s, kidney and liver diseases, and reproductive harm like miscarriages and birth defects.

More than a million people suffered exposure to the toxic water, while the government’s cover-up delayed action until officials shut down the contaminated wells in 1987. In 1989, the EPA designated Camp Lejeune as a Superfund site.

The Trump administration must acknowledge this history and take decisive action to prevent further injustice, making sure the government’s negligence and concealment no longer harm the victims.

Delivering Justice in the Camp Lejeune Compensation Crisis: A Final Opportunity for Trump to Act

By prioritizing these actions, the Trump administration—alongside new Navy and Defense leadership—can finally deliver long-overdue justice. The DOJ must take a less adversarial stance. The Navy should streamline its claims process, expand settlement criteria, and secure adequate funding. Transparency must improve. These steps will help transform the CLJA from a broken promise into a functioning system of accountability.

Expanding eligibility to include civilians will further honor everyone harmed. With clear and decisive leadership, President Trump can end decades of delay and suffering. Camp Lejeune victims—veterans, families, and civilians—deserve real compensation and long-awaited closure.

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