Two federal court rulings dealt major setbacks to the Trump administration by determining that the Environmental Protection Agency unlawfully terminated billions of dollars...
The $20 Billion Controversy Over E.P.A. Climate Funds, Explained
Summary
The Trump administration is attempting to freeze or reclaim $20 billion in climate funds previously allocated by the Biden administration for green banks—institutions that finance clean energy projects in under served communities. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin claims the funds were "parked" at Citibank without proper oversight, though the money was legally committed. The controversy escalated when a top Justice Department prosecutor, Denise Cheung, resigned after refusing to investigate the matter, citing insufficient evidence. Experts argue the funds were appropriately distributed to nonprofit grantees as part of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund under the Inflation Reduction Act. If the administration succeeds in blocking the funds, over 200 planned projects, including solar farms and affordable housing initiatives, may be jeopardized. Legal challenges are expected, as delays could hinder long-term climate investment strategies. The move aligns with broader efforts by the administration to curtail federal climate programs.
his press release highlights a global report examining how nations are translating "Just Transition" commitments into concrete laws, environmental rule of law policies...
A federal judge ordered the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to resume distributing $2.8 billion in environmental and climate justice grants designed to address health...
June 26, 2026
Energy Justice
Energy Justice
Driven by the sudden demand for artificial intelligence infrastructure, Texas is facing an influx of at least 248 planned data center projects, primarily targeting rural...
Federal grant cuts are significantly impacting environmental justice and public health efforts in Houston, with tens of millions of dollars eliminated from local programs...
Representative Christian Menefee is working to elevate environmental justice as a key priority within the Democratic Party, emphasizing the need to address pollution and climate..
America’s rapidly expanding data center industry is carrying a steep hidden environmental and public health cost, estimated at nearly $25 billion annually...
A recent Newsweek analysis highlights how accelerating sea level rise, driven in part by the potential collapse of Antarctica’s Thwaites “doomsday” glacier, could reshape U.S...
May 15, 2026
Human Health
Human Health
A new study found that "forever chemicals" (PFAS) are present in 98.8% of over 10,000 human blood samples tested. Most individuals carry a complex mixture of at least five...
May 8, 2026
Climate Change
Climate Change
A new study warns that Louisiana’s rapidly disappearing coastline may have crossed a tipping point, with land loss accelerating beyond the reach of traditional restoration...
May 4, 2026
Environmental Justice
Environmental Justice
A unanimous Supreme Court ruled that multiple oil and gas companies can pursue lawsuits brought by Louisiana parishes over coastal land loss in federal court, overturning...
April 23, 2026
Environmental Justice
Environmental Justice
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Judge rules federal operator caused excessive damage to downstream homeowners after Hurricane Harvey
A federal judge has ruled that the government is liable for the damage inflicted on downstream homeowners during Hurricane Harvey, marking a significant shift in the long-standing
April 10, 2026
Climate Change
Climate Change
New federal weather data shows that March was the hottest and most abnormally warm month ever recorded in the continental United States, shattering records that date back more...
A new global analysis shows that large AI data centers are creating significant “heat islands,” raising surrounding land temperatures by an average of 3.6°F...
March 27, 2026
Civil Rights & Human Rights
Civil Rights & Human Rights
United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution declaring the transatlantic slave trade the "gravest crime against humanity" and calling for reparatory...