Lawmakers Warn Trump Administration of Violating Law with $27 Billion in Terminated Clean Energy Funding

Congressional Democrats, led by Senators Chris Van Hollen and Sheldon Whitehouse, have written a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin, warning that the Administration is violating the law by terminating $27 billion in congressionally obligated funding for affordable clean energy. The funding was allocated through the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF), which includes Solar for All, the National Clean Investment Fund, and the Clean Communities Investment Accelerator.

The lawmakers argue that the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) only rescinds "unobligated balances" under Clean Air Act Section 134, and does not apply to obligated funding. They cite the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) scoring of the OBBBA, which estimated that the repeal and rescission of the GGRF would only save $19 million, and not $27 billion as claimed by the EPA. Furthermore, numerous Republicans have made it clear that it is not legally possible to claw back funding that has already been obligated.

The letter is signed by 30 Senate Democrats, including Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and Senators Richard Blumenthal, Lisa Blunt Rochester, and Kirsten Gillibrand, among others. The lawmakers urge Administrator Zeldin to reverse course and restore the important funding, which they argue will deliver more affordable housing, community centers for refuge during extreme weather events, and clean energy to American communities.

Key Takeaways:

• The Trump Administration is violating the law by terminating $27 billion in congressionally obligated funding for affordable clean energy.
• The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) only rescinds "unobligated balances" under Clean Air Act Section 134, and does not apply to obligated funding.
• The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated that the repeal and rescission of the GGRF would only save $19 million, and not $27 billion as claimed by the EPA.
• Numerous Republicans have made it clear that it is not legally possible to claw back funding that has already been obligated.
• The termination of funding will have severe consequences, including the cancellation of thousands of projects that will deliver more affordable housing, community centers for refuge during extreme weather events, and clean energy to American communities.
• Administrator Zeldin has made baseless attacks on the GGRF, accusing it of being "criminal" and stating that it was "all of the above" when asked if it was "either a kickback, a theft, or graft."

Statistics:

• $27 billion in terminated congressionally obligated funding for affordable clean energy.
• $7 billion for Solar for All, $11.97 billion for the National Clean Investment Fund, and $8 billion for the Clean Communities Investment Accelerator.
• 49 state-level entities and 6 Tribes have received funding through the Solar for All program.
• 30 Senate Democrats have signed the letter to Administrator Zeldin, including Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senators Richard Blumenthal, Lisa Blunt Rochester, and Kirsten Gillibrand.
• The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated that the repeal and rescission of the GGRF would only save $19 million, and not $27 billion as claimed by the EPA.

Sources:

• Letter from Senators Chris Van Hollen, Sheldon Whitehouse, and 30 other Senate Democrats to Administrator Lee Zeldin.
• Congressional Budget Office (CBO) scoring of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA).
• Article by EandE News quoting Mandy Gunasekara, an EPA Chief of Staff in the first Trump administration.
• Statement by Congressman Griffith (R-VA) during the House Energy and Commerce Committee mark-up of the OBBBA.
• Article by Project 2025 on the EPA chapter by Mandy Gunasekara.