Urgent: Funding for Ithaca’s Green New Deal and New York’s Environmental Programs at Risk Amid Trump Administration Cuts

Funding for Ithaca’s climate action plan and other environmental projects in New York is currently at risk. This comes after President Donald Trump paused grants aimed at combating climate change.

Last month, Trump issued an order that froze funds from the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. These laws, enacted during President Biden’s term, were designed to provide substantial financial support for energy-saving and environmental initiatives.

Although a federal judge has temporarily stopped Trump’s freeze, many grant recipients, including those in New York, are uncertain about their funding status. Recently, the new head of the Environmental Protection Agency, Lee Zeldin, announced plans to withdraw $20 billion that had already been set aside for climate projects.

In Ithaca specifically, two federal grants totaling $2.5 million, crucial for advancing the city’s Green New Deal, have been frozen. This local initiative, which passed back in 2019, aims to electrify buildings and support low-income residents in adapting to climate change.

According to Rebecca Evans, the city’s sustainability director, federal funding makes up a staggering 85% of the Green New Deal budget. With the freeze in place, the program now has only about $50,000 left that is not already earmarked.

Evans expressed serious concerns at a recent city meeting, stating, “The Green New Deal does not have any available funding right now.” She mentioned that there has been no clear update from the Department of Energy or other federal agencies about the future of these grants.

Trump’s executive order specifically aimed to “terminate” initiatives like the Green New Deal, which seeks to tackle climate change while addressing social and economic disparities. Ithaca is among the few cities to implement a local version of this plan.

Many associated projects are now shrouded in uncertainty. Recent estimates suggest that over $15 billion in federal funds were promised for New York projects through the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Some of this funding was announced back in 2022, and while some funds have been allocated, newer recipients feel anxious about their financial support.

For instance, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Transportation pledged over $260 million to help schools and municipalities in New York transition to electric buses and charging infrastructure. Schools must meet a state requirement for all school buses to be electric by 2035.

While some districts have already received funding for electric buses, others are still waiting. For example, Newfield Central School District near Ithaca has secured funds from the EPA, but other districts remain in limbo.

Tompkins County also received a $1.2 million grant for its transportation provider to purchase hybrid buses, but officials have yet to get any updates on this funding.

Additionally, funding related to energy research and support for farmers looking to lower energy consumption remains uncertain. Cornell University, which received over $10 million from the Department of Energy for research last year, is now reviewing how these executive orders might affect funding. A university spokesperson noted they would provide guidance as more information surfaces.