Environmental justice and climate change programs on hold after federal funding freeze

$19 billion grant freeze harms efforts to improve quality of life in needy communities and sparks legal and political controversies

Despite two federal court orders requiring the U.S. government to continue distributing grants and loans, about $19 billion in Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) funding for government agencies and nonprofits remains frozen. The website reports Inside Climate News. Behind the term environmental justice are millions of people whose water sources have turned into sewage, whose air is highly polluted, and more. Because the strong inhabitants of these areas have left, the weak are left to get sick and even die early.

EPA administrators, led by Lee Zeldin, have expressed their intention to freeze an additional $20 billion invested in the “greenhouse gas emissions reduction” program. Zeldin described the process as “final,” and claimed that it was done in order to bypass regulatory control – a claim opposed by legal and environmental groups, who argued that there was no evidence indicating any shortcomings in this action.

Critics of the policy say the Trump administration, which has taken steps to block funding for a variety of environmental justice programs, is acting on broad allegations of dishonesty rather than following the procedures and rules established by law and regulation. This has caused real suffering to communities hoping to receive assistance in a variety of areas—from improving clean water supplies and controlling air quality, to helping recover from storms and ensuring green transportation, to supporting projects to improve energy efficiency in private homes.

Several government and non-governmental organizations are reporting a lack of clarity and uncertainty about accessing grants awarded under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. One example is a local organization in North Carolina that received a $3 million grant notification to improve communication between local governments and communities affected by natural disasters – a grant that is now in a freeze. The city of New Haven, Connecticut, also experienced a similar problem, with a $20 million grant notification being sent to partner groups, but the online system displaying “paused” messages and not allowing access to the funding.

Against this backdrop, legal and public experts warn that the freezes, which are disrupting the flow of essential funds, threaten the ability of communities to cope with the impacts of climate change and provide basic services. Senior political figures such as Senator Patty Murray have also expressed concern about the situation, arguing that the frozen funding helps lower energy bills and support essential services for residents.

The legal proceedings are taking place in parallel with the public battle, with a federal court granting a temporary injunction to halt the funding freeze pending further investigation. At the same time, the Environmental Protection Agency continues to face criticism over its management and oversight processes, with the future of funding and access to it remaining dependent on legal decisions and the continued public battle.

More of the topic in Hayadan:

• Israeli researchers discovered evidence of the collapse of a commercial vine branch in the Negev 1500 years ago, during a time of plague and climate change
• Hot, warming, freezing
• Decades late, a study proves a link between exposure to pollution in Haifa and an increase of up to 16% in the incidence of cancer compared to the national average (An example of environmental injustice in Israel as well)