EPA Pulls $20 Billion in Green Grants Amid Controversy

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has canceled $20 billion in climate and clean energy grants originally issued to nonprofit organizations through the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, a key part of the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. The cancellation comes after weeks of frozen funds, legal disputes, and federal investigations.

According to The New York Times reporter Claire Brown, the EPA’s administrator Lee Zeldin cited alleged fraud and a controversial undercover video from conservative group Project Veritas as justification. The video featured a former EPA employee comparing the agency’s rushed climate spending to “throwing gold bars off the Titanic.” However, no formal evidence of fraud has been presented.

The funds, managed through Citibank, were earmarked for eight nonprofits, including Climate United and the Coalition for Green Capital. These groups planned to issue loans and grants for projects like solar installations and home retrofits. Some organizations say they’ve been unable to pay staff since the freeze began in mid-February. Climate United, which was awarded nearly $7 billion, received notice of the grant’s cancellation just 30 minutes before it was made public.

Legal action is now underway, with several nonprofits suing both the EPA and Citibank for allegedly withholding funds without cause. Meanwhile, Congressional Democrats have launched an investigation into what they describe as “false and misleading statements” from the EPA’s leadership.

This move, described by affected organizations as “unauthorized and unlawful,” puts a significant climate investment at risk. These grants were intended to leverage private investment and fund grassroots climate solutions across the country.

Now more than ever, we need to Support local and national efforts that prioritize clean energy and climate justice. Whether it’s donating to environmental nonprofits, reducing your carbon footprint, or switching to plant-based meals, every action counts. Let’s keep pushing for a healthier, greener future—despite the setbacks.

Sign These Petitions! 

Please sign our latest and most urgent petitions to help the planet. Every signature counts!

• Petition: Stop Harvard’s Cruel Monkey Experiments Now
• Petition: Stop the Extinction of Alaska’s Snow Crabs – Act Now
• Petition: Tear Down the Texas Border Wall That Trapped and Killed 100+ Animals

Related Content:

• EPA Environmental Justice Office on the Brink as Staff Put On Leave
• Environmental Impact of Pet Flea Treatments Raises Biodiversity Concerns
• Shipwrecks on the Ocean Floor Pose Major Environmental Threats
• 10 Daily Habits That are Killing the Environment
• Norway Postpones Deep-Sea Mining Initiatives Amid Environmental Concerns

Easy Ways to Help the Planet:

• Eat Less Meat: Download Food Monster, the largest plant-based Recipe app on the App Store, to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy. You can also buy a hard or soft copy of our favorite vegan cookbooks.
• Adopt-a-Pet: Visit WildWatchers, a watchdog platform specifically designed for animal, earth, and wildlife warriors to actively give back, rescue, and protect animals and the planet.
• Reduce Your Fast Fashion Footprint: Stand against fast fashion Pollution by supporting circular brands like Tiny Rescue, which create cause-based collections using recycled, zero-waste clothing designed to be returned and remade, ensuring it never ends up in a landfill.
• Shop Sustainably for Your Home: Visit SustaiNOBLE.org, an eco-friendly and ethically sourced home decor store that will empower your home with luxurious fair-trade, and sustainable products made by global artisans. 
• Support Independent Media: Being publicly funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing you with high-quality content. Please consider supporting us by donating!
• Sign a Petition: Your voice matters! Help turn petitions into victories by signing the latest list of must-sign petitions to help people, animals, and the planet.
• Stay Informed: Keep up with the latest news and important stories involving animals, the environment, sustainable living, food, health, and human interest topics by subscribing to our newsletter!
• Do What You Can: Reduce waste, plant trees, eat local, travel responsibly, reuse stuff, say no to single-use plastics, recycle, vote smart, switch to cold water laundry, divest from fossil fuels, save water, shop wisely, Donate if you can, grow your food, volunteer, conserve energy, compost, and don’t forget about the microplastics and microbeads lurking in common household and personal care products!