Judge Says EPA Must Show Evidence of Wrongdoing in $20 Billion Climate Program

The EPA notified grant recipients that they will no longer receive funding under the program.

A federal judge asked the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on March 12 to submit evidence justifying its decision to terminate a $20 billion climate funding program.

Judge Tanya Chutkan of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia said during a court hearing that she would order the administration to file a sworn statement by March 17 detailing the evidence it used as the basis for ending the grant.

โ€œYou canโ€™t even tell me what the evidence of malfeasance is,โ€ Chutkan told a lawyer for the Trump administration during the hearing.

The EPA confirmed earlier this month that it had canceled what it described as a $20 billion โ€œgold barโ€ scheme introduced by the previous administration.

The program, formally known as the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, is commonly called the โ€œgreen bank.โ€ It was approved under the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, with the EPA awarding $20 billion in grants to eight entities to launch projects aimed at curbing pollution.

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced in early February that the agency was working to claw back the funding, citing concerns about lack of oversight and transparency.

In a March 11 statement, Zeldin said the EPA had conducted a โ€œcomprehensive reviewโ€ and identified โ€œmaterial deficiencies which pose an unacceptable risk to the lawful execution of these grants.โ€

As a result, the agency notified recipients of the grant that they would no longer receive funding, he said.

โ€œThe days of โ€™throwing gold bars off the Titanic’ are over. The well documented incidents of misconduct, conflicts of interest, and potential fraud raise significant concerns and pose unacceptable risk,โ€ Zeldin said. โ€œI have taken action to terminate these grants riddled with self-dealing and wasteful spending. 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 โ€˜climate equity.โ€™โ€

The EPA said it would work to โ€œre-obligate lawfully appropriated fundsโ€ in the green bank program with โ€œenhanced controls to ensure adequate governance, transparency, and accountability, consistent with statutory requirements.โ€

Byย Katabella Roberts

Read Full Article on TheEpochTimes.com

The Epoch Times
The Epoch Timeshttps://www.theepochtimes.com/
Tired of biased news? The Epoch Times is truthful, factual news that other media outlets don't report. No spin. No agenda. Just honest journalism like it used to be.

Beijing and Moscow Double Down on Propping Up Tehran, Threaten to Give It Nukes

As anyone who understands how these things unfold could...

The Looming Threat To Our Homeland

After success of โ€œOperation Midnight Hammer,โ€ where U.S. military bombed Iranian nuclear facilities, the threat to America has never been greater.

Trumpโ€™s Bold Strike on Iran: A Necessary Move for Global Securityย 

Trumpโ€™s airstrikes on Iranโ€™s nuclear facilities have been hailed as a courageous and necessary action to safeguard American interests and global stability.

Groundhog Day came late this year to the Land of Smiles.

itโ€™s the same rigmarole, on whatever pretext, the army commandeers the Thai state with vague promises to restore democracy at some unspecified future date.

Resource number one

Russia has an unsustainable birthrate worsened by mortality rate of Russian males through war and alcoholism. One solution, steal young children from other countries.ย 

Boeing, FAA Share Blame for Door Panel Flying Off During Alaska Airlines Flight: NTSB

The sudden midair door panel blowout on Alaska Airlines flight last year stemmed from failures by Boeing, its supplier Spirit AeroSystems, and the FAA.

RFK Jr. Says Pregnant Women Can Get COVID-19 Vaccine If They Choose To

Pregnant women can get COVID-19 vaccines, even after CDC stopped recommending shots during pregnancy, Sec. RFK, Jr. told members of Congress.

Texas Governor Signs Law Requiring Warning Labels on Some Foods

Texas is requiring companies to add warning labels to some foods, under the Texas MAHA legislation bill signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott.

21.8 Million US Seniors Paying for Expenses With Only Social Security Income: Survey

An estimated 21.8 million senior citizens in America make ends meet solely using their social security funds, The Senior Citizens League (TSCL) said.

Trump Arrives in Netherlands for NATO Summit, With Defense Spending High on Agenda

President Donald Trump arrived in Amsterdam on Tuesday to attend the NATO summit, which is being held in The Hague from June 24 to 25.

Major Victory for Trump Administration and the American People on Deporting Criminal Illegal Aliens to Third Countries

Supreme Court decision allows DHS to deport criminal illegal aliens who are not wanted in their home country to third countries who've agreed to accept them.

No Changes Planned for FDAโ€™s Vaccine Advisory Committee โ€˜At This Timeโ€™: Spokesperson

There are no plans to remove any members of the panel that advises the FDA on vaccines, a spokesperson said on June 20.

Trump Says Trade Deals Expected With India and Pakistan

President Trump expects US will sign trade deals with India and Pakistan, signaling growing momentum in push to reshape global trade through tariff diplomacy.
spot_img

Related Articles