The move was announced in a post Tuesday.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administration confirmed on Tuesday that $2 billion, known as what is called “Goldbars.”
In a video posted to X last month, Zeldin said the EPA is trying to cancel the $20 billion grant awarded by the Biden administration for climate and alternative energy projects.
The program, approved under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, is officially known as the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, but is more commonly referred to as the “Green Bank.” The two initiatives worth $14 billion and $6 billion respectively aim to provide competitive grants to nonprofit organizations, community development banks and other groups for projects focusing on what is said to be disadvantaged communities.
The funds have already been awarded to eight nonprofit organizations, including the Green Capital Union, Climate United Fund, Power Forward Communities, Opportunity Finance Network, Inclusiv, and Justice Climate Fund. These organizations partner with a variety of groups, including the United States, Habitat for Humanity, and Community Conservation Corporation.
In a video released Tuesday, Zeldin added that the FBI and the Department of Justice are both investigating funds. After that, the money has been frozen, he added.
Related Stories
“Not only did the EPA have full authority to do this, but frankly, we had no other options,” he said. The end announced Tuesday was due to the program violating the EPA’s statutory goals and was misaligned with the administration’s focus.
“The only way we can reduce waste is to… terminate these grants,” Zeldin, a former Republican lawmaker, said in the video.
At a meeting with members of Congress last month before being confirmed, Zeldin said he had “made a very important commitment to them and the American people,” adding that he wanted “full accounting” for the EPA fund.
“The day we loaded cash into the activist group on the far left in the name of environmental justice and climate equity,” Zeldin said at the time.
Green Energy advocates denounced the EPA’s recent actions as a political stunt, saying Zeldin is trying to illegally revoke spending approved by Congress on partisan reasons. They promised to challenge the orders before the court.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris announced the grant awards at an event held in Charlotte, North Carolina last year.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
