During the final months of the Biden regime in late 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) accelerated the allocation of billions in grants and contracts, primarily through Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) programs aimed at environmental justice, climate initiatives, and green energy. These are all Marxist/Democrat priorities, as the IRA incorporated the Democrats’ “Green New Deal” provisions for which they had been working for years.
“Environmental justice” is a red flag, as that phrase represents one of the DEI-based crackpot theories derived from the Marxist “critical theory” that has infested colleges and universities for decades. The notion of “renewable green energy” itself is a misnomer, as a major underlying premise has been the supposed dangers of anthropogenic global warming caused primarily by carbon dioxide byproducts of human civilization during the Industrial Age. AGW theory is based on computer models whose dire predictions have been wrong from the very beginning. Nevertheless, the Left have glommed onto the “doom and gloom” as rationale for massive public investments in wind, sun, and other pipedreams that are incapable of meeting the energy needs of modern societies.
In total, through the IRA and other bills and executive orders, Biden helped facilitate the transfer of over a trillion dollars to climate-related programs, rolled out stringent environmental regulations, and worked with state and local governments to prop up the production of many “green” products like solar panels and electric cars.
Those “public investments” amount to green grifting in which Democrat allies, including green think-tanks, university grants (to keep the AGW myth going), and favored green enterprises that give kickbacks/donations to Democrats, are funded by taxpayer dollars through enormous EPA grants and contracts. After President Trump’s November landslide, EPA bureaucrats rushed to shovel as much taxpayer money out the door to Democrat-aligned entities as possible. After Trump’s inauguration, the priorities of the EPA were reversed, as new Director Lee Zeldin led a sweeping initiative to claw back many of those last-minute funding actions.
Let’s explore the topic in detail.
DEMOCRAT PRAISE AND DEFENSE
Naturally, the last-minute actions drew support from various Democrats and some media outlets, who framed them as essential investments in equity, clean energy, and long-term environmental goals. [Note: “equity” is another word straight out of Karl Marx and is the basis for the Democrats’ identity politics writ large by DEI mandates.] Here are some examples of Democrat and Democrat media praise for green grift:
- Senate Democrats, including members of the Environment and Public Works Committee, strongly defended the grants against cancellations by the incoming Trump administration’s EPA in early 2025. They argued that halting over $1.5 billion in environmental justice and diversity-focused funding was illegal and undermined critical community programs.
- In a fiery Senate hearing, Democrats emphasized the grants’ role in addressing pollution in underserved areas and accused the new EPA leadership of politicizing environmental aid.
- Stacey Abrams, a prominent Democratic figure and former Georgia gubernatorial candidate, publicly defended a $2 billion EPA allocation for green energy appliances under the IRA, describing it as a vital step toward equitable climate action and energy efficiency for low-income households.
- In February 2025, congressional Democrats ramped up criticism of the Trump EPA’s freeze on IRA climate spending, praising the original Biden-era allocations as necessary for advancing clean energy transitions and holding polluters accountable. Defending the grift and the kickbacks to Democrat campaigns is what it’s all about.
- The Washington Post published coverage defending a $2 billion grant to Power Forward Communities (a coalition including left-leaning groups), portraying it as a legitimate effort to promote affordable housing and green renovations, which prompted a fact-check rebuttal from the Trump-era EPA press office.
- Associated Press coverage highlighted Democratic accusations of illegality in grant cancellations, framing the original spending as targeted at equity and inclusion in environmental efforts. Gotta protect the grifting at all costs!
Now let’s look at some of those last-minute obligations made by the Biden EPA. These people are NOT good stewards of taxpayer dollars.
LAST MINUTE EPA OBLIGATIONS BY THE BIDEN REGIME
In the final months of the Biden administration, particularly from December 2024 into early January 2025, the EPA accelerated efforts to obligate and disburse funds from major initiatives, aiming to commit congressionally appropriated funds before President Trump’s inauguration on 20 Jan 2025. Conservative critics and the incoming Trump administration characterized this as a rushed “gold bars off the Titanic” push to lock in spending and limit reversal options, including by transferring funds to external accounts (e.g., Citibank) and modifying grant terms to reduce termination flexibility.
Here are some of those key actions taken by the Biden EPA. [As an aside, one can only speculate that they panicked when they realized Harris lost the election and they wouldn’t be able to continue their leisurely pace of obligations during her green-friendly administration. That was the reason for the “accelerated obligations” in the final months of the Biden regime.]
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Amazing that all this stuff was included in the IRA, which was supposed to have been about “reducing inflation” (at least according to the name of the bill!). But of course, green investments are themselves inflationary! What a ruse!
THE TRUMP/ZELDIN EPA CHANGES COURSE
Enter the Trump administration and new EPA Director Lee Zeldin. President Trump campaigned on promises to “unleash American energy” and reduce regulatory burdens, often prioritizing industry and innovation over expanded climate or equity programs (ending green Marxist claptrap). In delivering on those promises, Director Zeldin announced the Great American Comeback Initiative on 4 Feb 2025, as the guiding framework for the EPA. Its five key pillars include:
- Clean land, air, and water for every American — Reaffirming the agency’s mission to protect human health and the environment, building on achievements from Trump’s first term (e.g., reduced toxic emissions, hazardous site cleanups).
- American energy dominance — Promoting domestic production of “cleanest energy on the planet,” reducing reliance on foreign sources, lowering costs for families and businesses, and supporting all forms of energy (including coal, natural gas, and nuclear).
- Great comeback of the auto industry — Rolling back regulations seen as burdensome (e.g., EV mandates, tailpipe emissions standards) to revitalize manufacturing and bring jobs back.
- Make the United States the Artificial Intelligence capital of the world — Streamlining approvals for AI-related infrastructure (e.g., data centers) while ensuring clean operations powered by American energy.
- Swift and fair permitting decisions — Accelerating approvals for projects, partnering with businesses, and incentivizing investment to create jobs.
The following are some of key accomplishments to date under this initiative:
- Deregulation — Announced over 30 rollbacks targeting Biden-era rules on power plants, vehicle emissions, water pollution, and climate-related measures. Described as the “most consequential day of deregulation in U.S. history” in March 2025.
- Grant and spending reviews — Canceled or froze billions in prior allocations (e.g., over $20 billion in environmental justice, DEI, and certain climate grants), redirecting focus to what Zeldin calls “real threats” and eliminating “wasteful” programs.
- Cooperative federalism — Emphasizing state primacy (e.g., fast-tracking approvals for underground injection wells, rescinding guidance punishing states for foreign-sourced pollution).
- Staff and structural changes — Significant reductions (plans for thousands of job cuts, up to 65% budget reduction in some proposals), elimination of offices like Environmental Justice, and shifts in research priorities.
- Other focuses — Disaster response (e.g., site visits to East Palestine, California wildfires, North Carolina flooding), PFAS and lead pipe remediation in select cases, and alignment with broader Trump goals like the National Energy Dominance Council.
Specifically, the EPA, in coordination with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has aggressively pursued spending cuts targeting Biden-era programs, particularly those related to climate initiatives, environmental justice, DEI, and clean energy (sic). These actions stem from executive orders emphasizing fiscal accountability and reprioritization of agency funds toward core environmental protection and economic growth goals per the above five pillars.
Cancellations of obligations have focused on grants (the majority) and contracts, with many facing legal challenges, temporary court blocks, and ongoing litigation through the Democrat lawfare and judicial tyranny that we have seen in action over the past year on virtually EVERY Trump initiative. Not all proposed cancellations have been finalized or upheld as of 21 December. Based on official EPA announcements and reporting, the EPA has canceled or confirmed termination of approximately 1,240 grants and contracts, totaling over $30 billion in obligated funding. This includes:
- Grants: ~1,221 (primarily environmental justice, climate, and DEI-focused).
- Contracts: ~19 (DEI, media subscriptions, and related services).
A breakdown is provided below, drawing from phased announcements and major programs through August 2025. The EPA structured cuts into iterative rounds starting in February 2025, building to cumulative totals. Major programs like the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) and Solar for All represent the bulk of dollar values.
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Cumulative Totals Through August
- Total Items: ~1,240 (1,221 grants + 19 contracts). The 781 environmental justice grants encompass many from earlier rounds, avoiding double-counting.
- Total Dollar Value: $30.9+ billion. This aligns with EPA’s April 2025 statement of “$22 billion in environmental justice and DEI grants/contracts” plus additional clean energy cuts ($20B GGRF + $7B Solar for All). Excludes ~$1.5 billion in proposed but unconfirmed cuts (e.g., BRIC).
- Impacts and Controversies:
- Legal Status: Over 20 lawsuits from recipients (e.g., nonprofits, states, tribes) argue breaches of contract and violations of the Impoundment Control Act. Courts have issued injunctions (e.g., April 2025 Rhode Island ruling allowed some EPA terminations, but others remain blocked).
- Rationale: EPA cites “waste, fraud, abuse,” misalignment with priorities, and executive directives to “rein in wasteful spending.”
- Ongoing: As of December 2025, EPA reports continued reviews, with potential for more cuts (e.g., to advocacy groups). Total savings claimed: $2+ billion in early rounds, but broader estimates reach $30B+ including major programs.
Since the previous summary covered actions through August 2025 (including the Solar for All termination), here are notable developments and related actions from September to December 2025. No entirely new large-scale cancellation rounds have been announced beyond those already noted, but significant legal rulings, program closures, and ongoing pressures on existing grants have advanced the administration’s efforts to reduce spending on Biden-era climate, environmental justice (EJ), and related initiatives.
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CONCLUDING THOUGHTS
President Trump and Director Zeldin are on the right track, as the climate alarmism façade is being exposed for the fraud it has always been, as noted here:
The gap between alarmist predictions and observed reality is no longer possible to hide. Scientists deliberately misled the public with cherry-picked data, tortured computer models until they produced the “correct” scary result and misrepresented natural weather events as proof of climate change. What masqueraded as “consensus” was nothing more than a cartel of profiteers feeding on public guilt and taxpayer money.
And Director Zeldin is delivering on President Trumps’ campaign promises in spades by ending disbursement of taxpayer dollars on a fool’s errand. The EPA’s focus has now shifted to legal victories enabling prior terminations and administrative closure of grants. Total claimed savings remain ~$30B+ (including GGRF and Solar for All), though litigation disputes (Democrat lawfare) are ongoing. Ongoing program reviews via DOGE continue, with potential for further actions coming in the FY2026 budget implementation.
More, please! Now to pull the rug out from under all the green subsidies (esp. wind and solar) in South Dakota….
The end.
This article originally appeared in Stu Cvrk’s Substack. Reprinted here with permission
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