Join the Fight: Class-Action Lawsuit Seeks to Rejuvenate Climate and Environmental Grants

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), led by administrator Lee Zeldin, is facing a class-action lawsuit after cutting $3 billion in funding aimed at climate and environmental programs for disadvantaged communities.

Filed on June 25 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, the lawsuit claims the EPA overstepped its authority by canceling the Environmental and Climate Justice Program. This program was established under the Inflation Reduction Act and the Clean Air Act.

The lawsuit asserts, “The EPA’s termination of the program is unlawful. It undermines the separation of powers by overturning a congressional law based on presidential disagreements.”

More than 20 nonprofits, tribes, and municipalities have come together for this legal action. They were relying on grants for essential community initiatives like disaster preparedness, air quality improvements, and reducing high energy costs. These programs included projects to install pollution monitoring systems and replace lead pipes, aiming to build resilience against severe weather while involving local communities in decision-making.

The Southern Environmental Law Center, Earthjustice, Public Rights Project, and Lawyers for Good Government are behind the lawsuit, seeking not only to reinstate these grants but also to secure resources to help these critical programs succeed. Representatives from the EPA have not commented on the ongoing litigation.

Ben Grillot, a senior attorney at the Southern Environmental Law Center, stated, “This administration’s broad decisions impact communities nationwide that are actively addressing environmental challenges. The motivations behind this decision aren’t about the quality of the projects but are rooted in a disagreement with Congress, clearly violating separation of powers.”

The lawsuit references two executive orders from January 2021. The first order, “Unleashing American Energy,” instructed federal agencies to halt funding under the Inflation Reduction Act. This act, passed during the Biden administration, promotes clean energy initiatives. The second order called for the cancellation of all equity-related grants within 60 days.

Some plaintiffs in the lawsuit report being forced to cut staff and change their programs due to the funding loss. For instance, Appalachian Voices, an environmental nonprofit, had plans to use its grant for projects in rural Virginia, a region struggling economically due to declining coal resources.

Emma Kelly, the new economy program manager at Appalachian Voices, explained, “The decline of the coal industry in our area isn’t due to regulations or environmentalists. It’s simply because the resources that were safe and economical to mine are exhausted.” This shift has left communities grappling with identity and economic challenges.

In flood-prone Pound, Virginia, a planned project to build a riverwalk to protect against flooding has stalled due to the grant cancellation. Kelly noted that without federal support, the town can’t afford the project. “The loss of this grant has been deeply disheartening for the community,” she said. “We’ve tried to build trust, and now people feel let down and question whether they can rely on the government.”

This lawsuit highlights a growing trend of climate-related legal actions. According to a report from the Universal Ecological Fund, climate litigation cases in the U.S. have increased by over 40% in recent years. As communities demand accountability for environmental policies, these legal battles may define the future of climate action in the country.

You can learn more about the lawsuit and its implications through sources like the full legal document and reports from environmental law organizations.

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