On Thursday, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg visited East Palestine in Ohio. This was nearly three weeks after a train accident and chemical spillage devastated the small community. Residents have voiced frustration that the issue has received little attention from the Biden administration.

To reduce the chance of an explosion, local and state authorities evacuated residents within one mile of February 3’s derailment. They also started a controlled burning of industrial chemicals on the vehicle. This was to prevent shrapnel from being released into the small community. Five train cars emitted massive plumes of smoke from vinyl chloride, which is a known human carcinogen that was used in the manufacture of PVC.

According to CBS News, Buttigieg arrived in East Palestine on February 23rd at 3:30 AM. According to CBS News, the former Democratic presidential candidate said that he didn’t visit East Palestine sooner because he wanted to give the National Transportation Safety Board (and other federal agencies) space to “lead safety work,” which is what he believes is the usual practice for officials in his position. “But I am eager to have conversations in East Palestine about the impact of this on them.”

Buttigieg’s visit comes just one day after Trump visited the area and distributed pallets of bottled waters, thousands of gallons worth of cleaning supplies and other goods to residents. Buttigieg, the former commander-in chief, is running for a second term at the White House. He also raised concerns about the response of the Biden administration.

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Buttigieg has been responsible for several high-profile infrastructure issues during his tenure. He stated earlier this week that he would travel to East Palestine “when it is time” and that “some in Washington” want him to be the “main focal point so there aren’t too many questions about rail safety regulation and who is for or against.”

Buttigieg was criticized by lawmakers for not mentioning the train derailment publicly for more than a week after it occurred. Residents began reporting symptoms like persistent headaches, nausea and rashes. Republicans and Democrats, such as Sen. J.D. Vance (R–OH) pushed Buttigieg towards the crisis and criticized senior officials for their handling of the derailment.

Buttigieg finally made a public comment on the issue on February 13. He posted a social media message stating that he was “concerned” about the impact of the rail derailment on local families. He also highlighted “historic investments in rail safety” made through the Bipartisan infrastructure Law.

Norfolk Southern also warned the EPA about the presence of other chemicals at the site of the train derailment. After residents were informed they could return home, the EPA published the complete list. However, a team from Daily Wire reporters and producers visited East Palestine last week and reported a lingering chemical smell in the air, a oily chemical sheen in local rivers and creeks, and symptoms like headaches and sore throats.

Although President Joe Biden hasn’t yet visited East Palestine, he made a clandestine visit to Ukraine Monday to show solidarity with the country’s war effort against Russia. In an interview with Fox News, Trent Conaway, East Palestine’s mayor, described the mission to Ukraine in a “slap in his face”. He added, “He doesn’t care about us.”