As EPA kicks off the new year, the Office of Water continues to grapple with a continually expanding agenda, while at the same time struggling with stagnant or decreasing budgets. In addition to the usual (and growing) collection of statutory and program obligations that must be met, EPA is spending more time responding to or avoiding political scrutiny in a contentious election year. The combined effect for EPA’s drinking water regulatory agenda seems to be a perceptible slowing of progress as EPA leadership and staff work to assess their priorities within this year’s unique budgetary and political environment. Thus, AMWA anticipates that regulatory development and assessment activities will continue, but at a slower pace and while avoiding (as much as possible) heavy engagement in hot-button issues that could pull EPA into the political realm. It will be interesting to get additional perspectives on how the current regulatory and political dynamics may play out over the rest of the year when we hear from political experts, legislators, and regulators during AMWA’s upcoming Water Policy Conference in March—we hope to see you there.