Abdelrahman
EPA Head Aims to Revoke $20 Billion in Climate Grants Funded by Biden Administration
WASHINGTON (AP) – In a significant shift in policy, the newly appointed leader of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Lee Zeldin, announced plans to cancel $20 billion in grants previously allocated by the Biden administration for climate and clean energy initiatives.
During a video shared on X (formerly Twitter), Zeldin revealed that the EPA intends to retract funding associated with a rising “green bank,” which aims to support numerous projects aimed at combating climate change and advancing environmental justice.
Formally referred to as the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, the program—established under the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act—has become popularly known as the green bank. It includes two major initiatives: one valued at $14 billion and the other at $6 billion, both designed to provide competitive grants to nonprofits, community development banks, and various organizations focused on benefiting underserved communities.
This initiative is particularly supported by Democrats, who passed President Joe Biden’s flagship climate legislation without any Republican backing. Former EPA Administrator Michael Regan often highlighted the green bank as a key achievement of his tenure.
Republican Opposition and Concerns over Accountability
Republicans in Congress have criticized the green bank as a "slush fund," raising concerns about the management of these funds and the adequacy of oversight and transparency. Last year, the Republican-controlled House passed a bill to abolish the green bank and other components of Biden’s climate strategy; however, it was blocked in the Democrat-led Senate.
In the video shared on Wednesday evening, Zeldin emphasized his administration’s dedication to eliminating "waste and abuse" within the EPA. He referenced "an extremely disturbing video" on X featuring a former EPA staff member who claimed the Biden administration was "throwing gold bars off the Titanic" to spend taxpayer dollars prior to Donald Trump’s presidency.
Zeldin declared, "The era of irresponsibly funneling vast sums of money to extreme activist groups under the guise of environmental justice and climate equity is over." He instructed his team to locate misallocated resources, asserting, "They found them, and now we will regain control of funds as we determine our next steps."
The video mentioned by Zeldin was produced by Project Veritas, a right-leaning organization known for employing undercover tactics to expose news organizations, labor groups, and Democratic officials. In this instance, it featured Brent Efron, a former special adviser at the EPA, revealing remarks at a bar, which later led to his departure from the agency.
Response from Clean Energy Advocates
Advocates for clean energy have condemned Zeldin’s initiative, labeling it a political maneuver. They argue that he is unlawfully attempting to overturn Congressional spending decisions for partisan objectives, vowing to contest the directive legally.
"This is more than just an assault on clean energy funding—it violates constitutional principles," stated Lena Moffitt, executive director of Evergreen Action, an environmental organization backing the green bank. "The Trump administration is again making moves to unlawfully cut programs designed to assist American families, all to accommodate tax breaks for the wealthy."
The funds in question have already been allocated to eight nonprofits, including the Coalition for Green Capital, Climate United Fund, Power Forward Communities, Opportunity Finance Network, Inclusiv, and the Justice Climate Fund. These organizations have collaborated with various entities, such as Rewiring America, Habitat for Humanity, and the Community Preservation Corporation.
The grant awards were initially announced last year by former Vice President Kamala Harris during an event in Charlotte, North Carolina.
