The Trump administration is moving to reclaim approximately $20 billion in funding originally allocated by the Biden administration for air pollution and greenhouse gas emission reduction efforts. Lee Zeldin, appointed by Trump to lead the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has raised concerns about the management of these funds, claiming they were „parked at an outside financial institution.“
Zeldin’s statements suggest the funds are linked to the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF), established under the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. This fund aims to support clean energy projects, particularly in low-income and underserved communities. Zeldin indicated that the current funding situation is hindering public-private partnerships that could facilitate various environmental projects.
In a recent video, Zeldin referred to the funding as „gold bars,“ drawing from a controversial video produced by Project Veritas featuring an EPA employee discussing the urgency of distributing funds before the incoming administration could intervene. The employee’s remarks suggested that they were racing to allocate funds, which Zeldin later described as a „rush job with reduced oversight.“
Reports from major news outlets indicate that Zeldin’s comments imply a potential halt to GGRF funding, with Citi Bank reportedly overseeing the distribution of these funds. The Biden administration had prioritized quick disbursement of Inflation Reduction Act funds before Trump’s inauguration, which has led to ongoing political tension regarding the legality of reclaiming these funds.
As the Trump administration seeks to reverse these funding allocations, it faces potential legal challenges from Democratic lawmakers who argue that such actions would violate congressional approvals.
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