Funding for environmental justice grants at risk under new administration
Environmental justice organizations fear critical funding allocated under the Inflation Reduction Act could be rescinded as the incoming Trump administration signals plans to cut climate-focused grants.
Kristoffer Tigue, Dennis Pillion, Dylan Baddour and Marianne Lavelle report for Inside Climate News.
In short:
- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded $266 million from the Inflation Reduction Act’s environmental justice grant fund, leaving $334 million unspent and vulnerable to potential rescission by the incoming administration.
- Critics argue the grant program benefits marginalized communities, but Republicans claim it supports partisan agendas and seek to block remaining funds.
- Some nonprofits may abandon federal funding due to uncertainty, focusing instead on self-sustainability.
Key quote:
“This grant money would only be used as intended by Congress, going towards things like air quality and asthma, water quality and lead, asbestos contamination.”
— KD Chavez, executive director, Climate Justice Alliance
Why this matters:
Environmental justice initiatives aim to address long-standing inequities in pollution exposure and health risks for marginalized communities. Losing funding could worsen these disparities and undermine efforts to address climate and public health crises.
Related: Op-ed: The common ground between labor and climate justice is the key to a livable future
