The U.S. Department of Justice has approved $175 million in settlements for individuals allegedly exposed to contaminated water at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987. This settlement update marks significant progress in the ongoing Camp Lejeune water contamination crisis, with 649 elective option offers made under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act in recent weeks. Claims filed by service members and others who lived or worked at Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987 allege that contaminated drinking water on the base caused them to develop cancer or other illnesses.
DOJ Approves $175 Million in Recent Camp Lejeune Settlements
The Department of Justice Civil Division announced the approval of the camp lejeune water contamination settlements on March 10, 2026. Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward disclosed that the department has accelerated its compensation process and, “at the direction of the President and Attorney General, […] has reprioritized approving settlements for Camp Lejeune victims and families, many of whom sadly had to wait years for justice.”
As officials work through pending compensation requests for service members allegedly exposed to contaminated drinking water at the Marine Corps base, the DOJ is reportedly committed to approving settlements on a weekly basis moving forward, in an effort to address the substantial backlog of claims filed under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022.
What is the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022?
President Biden signed the Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022, or the Honoring Our PACT Act, into law on August 10, 2022. Section 804 of this legislation established the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022, which allows individuals previously exposed to allegedly contaminated water at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune to file claims with the Department of the Navy.
The legislation applies to anyone who lived, worked, or was otherwise exposed at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987. This includes individuals whose mothers were exposed during pregnancy. Consequently, the Act extends beyond veterans to encompass family members and civilian employees who resided on or worked at the base during the specified period.
According to the law, claimants must initially file an administrative claim with the U.S. Department of the Navy. The Navy then has six months to approve or reject each claim. If the Navy rejects the claim or fails to process it within six months, individuals can file a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina. Accepting a Navy settlement offer waives the right to pursue further litigation.
The Elective Option Program and Camp Lejeune Lawsuit Payouts
The Department of Justice and Department of the Navy introduced the Elective Option program on September 6, 2023, as an alternative to litigation, creating a voluntary framework to resolve qualifying Camp Lejeune claims without going to trial. The program utilizes a base-wide approach to exposures, eliminating the need to prove residence in specific contaminated areas.
More than 93,000 water contamination claims have reportedly been filed under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act. The goal of the Elective Option program is to address this volume by reducing the burden of potentially lengthy discovery, motions practice, and bellwether trials.
What Claimants Can Expect Moving Forward
The Department of the Navy launched the Camp Lejeune Justice Act Claims Management Portal, enabling claimants to track their claim status, upload substantiating documents, and exchange information required for processing. The filing deadline set forth in the Camp Lejeune Justice Act has passed, and the Department of the Navy is no longer accepting new claims.
Claimants who filed by the August 10, 2024 deadline can access their claims through the portal. The Claims Unit is reviewing all submitted claims and issuing settlement offers to claimants who have submitted supporting documents.
To expedite settlements, the Department of the Navy will accept personal records proving at least 30 days of presence at Camp Lejeune, reducing delays from claimants obtaining official service records. Claimants can still submit additional documentation to support a higher settlement by demonstrating an extended duration of presence beyond 30 days.
How Much Has the DOJ Paid Out for Camp Lejeune Claims?
According to the DOJ, Camp Lejeune claims filed with the Department of the Navy total more than $335 trillion. Since January 2025, the DOJ has paid over $421 million in total settlements, bringing the cumulative amount to more than half a billion dollars. This recent settlement approval demonstrates accelerated progress in the camp lejeune water contamination lawsuit, with individual payouts ranging from $100,000 to $550,000. Approximately $708 million has been approved since the program launched under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022.
Camp Lejeune Lawsuit Information
Camp Lejeune Water Claim, Leading Justice
DOJ approves $175M in Camp Lejeune water contamination settlements, WITN
