Controversy Surrounds EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin's Decisions to Cancel Funding for Minority Communities and Clean Energy Programs
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Controversy Surrounds EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin's Decisions to Cancel Funding for Minority Communities and Clean Energy Programs
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During the hearing before the Senate Appropriations Committee, Zeldin defended the administration's fiscal year 2026 budget request for the EPA. Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley accused Zeldin of illegally withholding climate-law funding, despite laws prohibiting such actions by the executive branch. Nearly 800 grants previously awarded under the 2022 climate law were abruptly terminated by the Trump administration, which Democrats have characterized as both illegal and unconstitutional.
The terminated funding included $3 billion in grants aimed at helping low-income and minority communities improve their air and water quality and protect against climate change, plus an additional $20 billion allocated for clean energy and climate-friendly projects through a green bank program.
Zeldin also came under fire for his claims regarding the ENERGY STAR program. During recent discussions, he incorrectly stated that the program was not congressionally mandated and suggested it could simply be operated by a private entity, disregarding established law.
Despite the criticism, Zeldin has been actively promoting his vision for the EPA. Last week, he announced a significant agency reorganization that includes the creation of a first-of-its-kind Office of State Air Partnerships within the Office of Air and Radiation. According to Zeldin, this new office will focus on working with state, local, and tribal air permitting agencies to improve processing of State Implementation Plans.
The reorganization also includes establishing an Office of Clean Air program and making changes to the Office of Water, while creating a new Office of Applied Science and Environmental Solutions. Zeldin stated the EPA will add more than 130 new employees to address backlogs of new chemicals and pesticides awaiting review.
Earlier this month, Zeldin highlighted the "Powering the Great American Comeback Initiative," which outlines the agency's new priorities through five key pillars. These pillars emphasize deregulation in favor of innovation, economic growth, and cooperative federalism. In a recent op-ed for The Hill, Zeldin rejected what he called "the false choice between environmental stewardship and economic prosperity."
However, critics note that while certain offices may gain staff under Zeldin's reorganization plan, overall EPA operations are likely to shrink as the White House seeks to slash the agency's budget by more than half for the next fiscal year beginning in October.