Authored by Aldgra Fredly via The Epoch Times,
A federal judge has temporarily halted the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from terminating grants that were part of a $20 billion climate funding program established by the previous administration.
WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 16: Lee Zeldin speaks during his Senate confirmation hearing Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
In a 23-page ruling, U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan – nominated by President Obama – issued a temporary restraining order to prevent the EPA from terminating grants awarded to three environmental groups—Climate United, Coalition for Green Capital, and Power Forward Communities—and block Citibank from transferring the funds back to the government.
The EPA’s decision to terminate the grants was based on ongoing investigations into alleged “programmatic waste, fraud, and abuse and conflict of interest.” However, Judge Chutkan found the evidence presented by the EPA to be insufficient, lacking specific information about the investigations and factual support for the decision.
“Based on the record before the court, and under the relevant statutes and various agreements, it does not appear that EPA Defendants took the legally required steps necessary to terminate these grants, such that its actions were arbitrary and capricious,” the judge stated.
Chutkan emphasized that the plaintiffs would suffer immediate harm if Citibank were to transfer the funds out of their accounts, as they rely on this money for operational expenses and projects. The grants were awarded to Climate United, Coalition for Green Capital, and Power Forward Communities under the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, created under the Inflation Reduction Act.
The lawsuit was filed by the three nonprofits after Citibank withheld their funding and their grants were terminated. Climate United CEO Beth Bafford expressed optimism about the preliminary injunction, calling it a step in the right direction for their legal challenge against the EPA.
EPA administrator Lee Zeldin criticized the previous administration for awarding grants to politically connected organizations, pledging to recover the funds for the core mission of the EPA.
“I will not rest until these hard-earned taxpayer dollars are returned to the U.S. Treasury,” Zeldin stated.
Zeldin highlighted concerns over lack of oversight and transparency in the grant allocation process, vowing to ensure that EPA funds are directed towards protecting human health and the environment.
The court filing by Climate United seeks to compel Citibank to fulfill its contractual obligations and challenge the EPA’s termination of the grant under the Administrative Procedure Act.
“This isn’t about politics; it’s about economics,” Bafford emphasized in a statement, underscoring the importance of the grant program for supporting Americans facing financial challenges.
The Epoch Times contacted Coalition for Green Capital, Power Forward Communities, and Citibank for comment, but responses were not received at the time of publication.
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