Sen. Baldwin Hosts Milwaukee Lead Crisis Roundtable After Six Schools Close

Senator Tammy Baldwin hosted a roundtable in Milwaukee to address the ongoing lead paint crisis in Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS), which has resulted in the closure of six schools and displaced over 1,800 students. Parents expressed deep concern over the health and emotional impact on their children, emphasizing the urgency of the situation and the need for long-term solutions beyond political divisions. Baldwin urged U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to personally visit Milwaukee and witness the crisis, criticizing the Trump administration for cutting federal childhood lead poisoning prevention experts and the CDC's denial of Milwaukee's request for lead hazard assistance. Parents highlighted the compounded risk of lead exposure both at home and in school, and the disruption caused by school closures to children's routines and family schedules. The community calls for reinstatement of federal lead experts and greater national attention to ensure the safety and health of Milwaukee's children. Baldwin stressed that the lead poisoning issue transcends politics, framing it as a critical public health emergency requiring immediate and sustained federal support.