EPA Sparks Outrage Cancelling 781 Environmental Justice Grants
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced plans to cancel 781 grants, predominantly focused on environmental justice. This move has sparked concern and opposition from various nonprofits and experts. The EPA's decision will affect hundreds of grantees' projects, including a San Diego nonprofit's initiative for a majority-Latino community and a community center in Chiloquin, Oregon. So far, 377 grantees have received termination notices, with the remaining 404 expected to follow in the next two weeks. The Trump administration, as part of the case Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council v. Department of Agriculture, tasked the Department of Agriculture to review and halt funding from the Inflation Reduction Act and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. This action was challenged by a coalition of nonprofits, including the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council, National Council of Nonprofits, Eastern Rhode Island Conservation District, and Green Infrastructure Center. Experts raise concerns that the EPA may not have conducted a thorough grant-by-grant review process before deciding to terminate the ongoing grants. The EPA, however, maintains that it completed such a review and targeted grants that did not align with its priorities. The EPA's decision to cancel 781 grants, primarily focused on environmental justice, has raised questions and opposition. As the terminations continue, affected grantees and concerned parties await further developments and potential legal challenges.
