[Jack Aylmer]
SENATE DEMOCRATS ARE ACCUSING THE EPA OF ILLEGALLY CANCELING NEARLY 2 BILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF GRANTS FOCUSED ON IMPROVING THE ENVIRONMENT IN MINORITY COMMUNITIES IMPACTED BY POLLUTION.
EARLIER THIS MONTH, EPA ADMINISTRATOR LEE ZELDIN ANNOUNCED THE TERMINATION OF MORE THAN 400 GRANTS FUNDING WHAT HE DESCRIBED AS ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION INITIATIVES.
SAYING THE PROGRAMS WERE UNNECESSARY AND THEIR CANCELLATION WILL SAVE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE MONEY.
AMONG THE TERMINATED PROJECTS WERE EFFORTS AIMED AT ADDRESSING CHILDHOOD LEAD POISONING, AIR QUALITY MONITORING, AND WATER CONTAMINATION.
THESE GRANTS WERE ORIGINALLY AWARDED UNDER THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION AS PART OF THE 2022 INFLATION REDUCTION ACT.
SENATE DEMOCRATS ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE SENT A LETTER TO ZELDIN DEMANDING INFORMATION FROM THE EPA ABOUT THE TERMINATED GRANTS-
AND ASKING THE AGENCY TO EXPLAIN ITS PLANS TO QUOTE “COMBAT POLLUTION SPECIFICALLY IN MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES.”
THE SENATORS ARGUE MANY OF THE TARGETED GRANTS WERE FUNDED THROUGH CONGRESSIONAL APPROPRIATIONS WITH A STATUTORY MANDATE THAT THEY BE DISTRIBUTED TO DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES.
THEY ALSO CLAIM THE EPA VIOLATED BOTH COURT ORDERS AND THE AGENCY’S OWN GRANT POLICIES-
WHICH INCLUDE LANGUAGE PREVENTING CANCELLATIONS BASED ON POLICY DISAGREEMENTS.
IN A STATEMENT, THE EPA SAID IT HAS RECEIVED THE LETTER FROM DEMOCRATIC SENATORS AND WILL RESPOND THROUGH THE APPROPRIATE CHANNELS-
BUT ADDED THESE GRANT TERMINATIONS WILL CONTINUE AS PART OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S PUSH TO MITIGATE QUOTE “WASTEFUL SPENDING OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS.”
FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS, I’M JACK AYLMER.