The EPA’s Ability to Kill Climate Justice Gets New Life

September 23, 2025

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under Trump-appointed Administrator Lee Zeldin has secured a significant court victory allowing it to freeze $20 billion from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund established by the Inflation Reduction Act. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled 2-1 in favor of the EPA, with two Trump-appointed judges framing the issue as a contract dispute that belongs in federal claims court. This decision affects funds that were originally earmarked for low-income and disadvantaged communities, with 70% intended for these areas.

Who is affected

Low-income and disadvantaged communities (including many Black people)
Nonprofit groups that had been awarded the funds
Climate United and other plaintiff organizations
Communities that would benefit from infrastructure, health, and economic security improvements

What action is being taken

The EPA is freezing $20 billion in already obligated funds from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund
The nonprofit groups are pursuing further appeals against the court ruling
The EPA is claiming widespread waste and abuse in the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund program to justify freezing the funds

Why it matters

The ruling impacts $16 billion in obligated grants intended to help vulnerable communities
The case represents a potential undermining of Congress's power to appropriate funds
The decision could "permanently gut implementation of major congressional legislation" designed to improve infrastructure, health, and economic security
The majority ruling limits plaintiffs to seeking only monetary damages rather than restoration of access to the funds

What's next

The nonprofit groups will appeal the ruling, as stated by Climate United CEO Beth Bafford who said, "This is not the end of our road"

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint