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Senators press EPA over frozen grants and legal fights over greenhouse-gas reduction fund
Summary
Multiple senators accused the EPA of impounding appropriated funds and illegally freezing grants, including environmental justice awards and the greenhouse gas reduction fund; the administrator defended those actions and noted pending appeals and stays in litigation.
Sen. Jeff Merkley and other senators accused EPA leadership of unlawfully freezing appropriations and blocking grants that Congress authorized, citing billions in withheld money and pending court challenges.
“Under your leadership, mister Zeldin, EPA has illegally and unconstitutionally impounded about $24,000,000,000, including $1,700,000,000 environmental justice grants,” Sen. Merkley said, asserting the freezes make it “harder to address pollution and climate chaos.”
Nut graf: Senators said impoundments undermine Congress’s Article I power over appropriations and asked whether the administrator will abide by district-court findings. Administrator Zeldin said the agency “is following all laws and the Constitution” and characterized freezes as legally justified while litigation proceeds.
Sen. Merkley and Sen. Patty Murray cited court rulings and historical Supreme Court precedent on impoundment. Sen. Chris Van Hollen referenced a DC district court (Judge Chutkan) finding that EPA had “failed to provide a single piece of evidence to support your claims” of waste, fraud and abuse in the greenhouse gas reduction fund rollout; the administrator noted that some decisions have been stayed by appellate courts and that the agency is pursuing appeals where appropriate.
Zeldin said some pauses were taken to review recipient paperwork and account-control agreements after inheriting large congressionally directed allocations, and said the agency will “abide by all laws and the United States Constitution at all times.” Senators pressed whether the agency would comply with district-court orders or appeal to higher courts; Zeldin repeatedly said his office will follow legal processes and appeals.
Ending: The exchange underscored an active legal and legislative dispute over execution of congressionally appropriated funds; senators requested written responses and additional briefings.
