The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has just shut down tens of millions of dollars worth of taxpayer-funded spending on former President Joe Biden’s “climate” agenda.
President Donald Trump’s EPA, in coordination with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has canceled more than $67 million in “climate” grants.
The funds had been designated for what Trump’s EPA described as “wasteful DEI and Environmental Justice grants.”
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin made the announcement on Saturday.
The EPA chief highlighted the Trump administration’s effort to eliminate unnecessary spending.
Zeldin, a former Republican congressman from New York, was appointed by Trump to lead the EPA with a mandate to recover billions in taxpayer funds previously allocated to “climate” initiatives under the Biden-Harris administration.
However, while many of the grants approved by Biden had used the word “climate” to justify the spending, many of them had nothing to do with the environment and only seemed to advance a far-left agenda.
Since taking office, Zeldin has focused on cutting back spending he believes does not align with the agency’s core mission.
Zeldin confirmed the latest funding cuts in a post on X, stating that 21 grants, totaling $77.1 million, had been flagged for review.
Of that amount, $67.4 million that had not yet been distributed is now officially canceled.
Sharing a New York Post report outlining some of the targeted grants, Zeldin wrote:
“UPDATE: I just canceled another 21 wasteful DEI and Environmental Justice grants, with the help of our amazing @DOGE team, racking up $67M more in savings!”
UPDATE: I just cancelled another 21 wasteful DEI and Environmental Justice grants, with the help of our amazing @DOGE team, racking up $67M more in savings! https://t.co/NKPc6sURqs
— Lee Zeldin (@epaleezeldin) February 22, 2025
Among the organizations affected is the Vermont-based Institute of Sustainable Communities, which had been awarded $16 million in grants by the Biden-Harris administration for a “National Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center.”
However, the EPA has now rescinded $12.4 million of the remaining balance.
The San Diego State University Foundation also saw funding cuts.
Its grant, which was intended to support “environmental justice” programs for “underserved” tribal, indigenous, and Pacific Island communities, has been revoked.
This latest move follows a series of budgetary rollbacks by the Trump administration aimed at redirecting funds to core environmental protection initiatives.
Earlier this month, Zeldin announced the cancellation of $50 million in funding that had been allocated to a “Free Palestine” climate group.
While the group used the phrase “climate justice,” it provided no evidence that funds were used to benefit the environment and the tax dollars appeared to be funneled to Hamas terrorists.
I just cancelled a $50 MILLION Biden-era environmental justice grant to the Climate Justice Alliance, which believes “climate justice travels through a Free Palestine”.
— Lee Zeldin (@epaleezeldin) February 13, 2025
“We will make sure every penny spent by EPA goes towards protecting human health and the environment, and Powering the Great American Comeback,” Zeldin told the New York Post.
“I am proud to partner with DOGE to restore fiscal responsibility and accountability in our government.”
Zeldin has been vocal about ensuring the EPA prioritizes its primary mission of environmental protection.
He asserted that taxpayer funds should not be diverted to what he describes as politically motivated initiatives.
The Biden EPA tossed $20 billion of “gold bars off the Titanic”.
BIG UPDATE! We found the gold bars and they are now being recovered for you, the hardworking American taxpayer.
Here are more of the details: pic.twitter.com/DM4C0TQcpj
— Lee Zeldin (@epaleezeldin) February 13, 2025
The agency has vowed to continue identifying additional grants and programs that may be subject to similar cancellations.
The Trump administration has made it clear that reversing the Biden-era expansion of environmental justice and diversity-based programs is a key priority.
By rescinding funds from these initiatives, the administration aims to shift focus back to traditional environmental protection efforts.
Meanwhile, the administration is cutting what it sees as unnecessary spending.
With additional reviews ongoing, more funding cuts could be announced in the coming weeks as the EPA and DOGE continue investigating previously approved grants.
