Wed Mar 12 12:39:44 UTC 2025: ## Trump Administration Reclaims $20 Billion in Clean Energy Funding

**WASHINGTON, March 12, 2025** – The Trump administration has seized $20 billion in funding allocated for greenhouse gas reduction projects, sparking outrage from climate advocates and Democrats. The funds, appropriated under the Biden administration’s 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, were intended to support clean energy and transportation initiatives in disadvantaged communities.

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin justified the move, stating the program didn’t align with the agency’s priorities and citing concerns about potential fraud, waste, and abuse. While the EPA pledged to re-allocate the funds under enhanced controls, it offered no specifics on how the money would be used. Zeldin emphasized the EPA’s commitment to being a “steward of taxpayer dollars,” rejecting what he called “frivolous spending in the name of ‘climate equity’.”

The decision follows legal challenges and the Trump administration’s broader efforts to freeze climate change-related funding. The Climate United Fund, an advocacy group, has already filed a lawsuit against the EPA and Citibank, alleging a breach of contract for withholding funds from eight recipients. The Justice Department and FBI are currently reviewing the program. The move represents a significant setback for climate action initiatives in the United States.

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