Key Impact Points:
- U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan requires Trump administration to provide evidence of alleged fraud, waste, and abuse.
- Climate advocates and Democrats challenge the legality of terminating $20 billion fund.
- EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin’s decision raises alarm among Democratic lawmakers and environmental groups.
Administration Under Pressure
U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan challenged President Trump’s administration Wednesday to provide concrete evidence supporting allegations of fraud, waste, and abuse that justified ending a $20 billion climate funding program.
“You can’t even tell me what the evidence of malfeasance is,” Judge Chutkan told Trump’s lawyer during a hearing at U.S. District Court in Washington.
The judge has set a Monday deadline for the administration to submit a sworn statement clarifying their justification.
Contested Climate Funding
The funding in question was allocated by Congress under President Joe Biden’s administration via the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. It supports greenhouse gas reduction projects, particularly targeting clean energy and transportation solutions for disadvantaged communities.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the clawback citing misalignment with agency priorities and concerns over potential fraud, though no specific evidence was initially provided.
“EPA will be an exceptional steward of taxpayer dollars dedicated to our core mission of protecting human health and the environment, not a frivolous spender in the name of ‘climate equity,’” Zeldin stated.
Legal and Political Repercussions
The Climate United Fund advocacy group, backed by Democratic Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, filed a lawsuit against the EPA and Citibank, aiming for an emergency order to disburse the withheld funds.
Whitehouse criticized the FBI and Justice Department’s involvement:
“The funding process followed a centuries-old framework that is set out transparently in a contract between Citibank and the Department of the Treasury and was announced publicly in April 2024.”
Whitehouse further emphasized that officials lacked a “true basis to interfere with these properly appropriated and obligated funds.”
Broader Agency Shakeup
Separately, Zeldin announced the closure of the EPA’s Office of Environmental Justice and Civil Rights along with its 10 regional offices. The move sparked concern among advocacy groups.
“It needlessly endangers the health of our children, particularly in areas overburdened by pollution,” said Stephanie Reese, director at Moms Clean Air Force.
Related Article: United States Exits UN Climate Damage Fund and Coal Transition Initiative
