Appeals Court Blocks Trump From Freezing Climate Grants
The full D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday that the EPA improperly terminated grants from the $20 billion Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. Six of 10 judges found the agency likely violated the law.
- $20 billion was congressionally authorized to fund clean energy nonprofits under the IRA.
- Funds had been placed in a Citibank account before EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin froze them.
- 6 of 10 judges found termination was based solely on a policy disagreement, not legal cause.
- Trump's 2025 spending law repealed unobligated IRA funds but did not address already-disbursed money.
Why it matters: The ruling determines whether the executive branch can cancel congressionally mandated spending based on policy objections alone.
- Nonprofits running the program cannot access the funds immediately while the stay is in effect.
How 14 sources split on this story
Where they split: The central dispute is whether Congress's repeal of unobligated IRA funds renders the injunction moot for already-disbursed grants.
The Hill7hAppeals court blocks Trump from rescinding green bank funds
Associated Press6hDivided federal appeals court says Trump administration was wrong to terminate climate fundsCNCTV News5hDivided federal appeals court says Trump administration was wrong to terminate climate funds
Reuters6hEPA cannot block billions in climate grants, US appeals court rulesYNYahoo News6hDivided federal appeals court says Trump administration was wrong to terminate climate fundsLeft coverage, 4 sources: The left frames the ruling as a rebuke of the administration's legally unsupported effort to dismantle Biden climate policy through manufactured fraud claims.
The Independent2hAppeals court rules Trump’s EPA improperly ended billions in climate fundingTBGThe Boston Globe2hDivided federal appeals court says Trump administration was wrong to terminate climate funds
Al Jazeera3hUS court deals blow to Trump’s bid to scrap climate grant programme
The New York Times3hAppeals Court Says E.P.A. Cannot Block Billions in Climate GrantsRight coverage, 5 sources: The right frames the ruling as judicial overreach that ignores Congress's explicit repeal of the underlying program in the Big Beautiful Bill.
The Epoch Times1dFederal Appeals Court Rules EPA Cannot Block Climate Grants
Newsmax3hDivided Appeals Court: WH Wrong to End Climate Funds
The Washington Times4hDivided federal appeals court says Trump administration was wrong to terminate climate funds
Washington Examiner3hFederal appeals court says EPA cannot terminate $20 billion in clean energy grantsWhat’s next: The EPA said it is reviewing the ruling and considering next steps.
- The agency has days to ask the Supreme Court to intervene before the ruling takes effect.
- Will the Supreme Court take up the case, and on what timeline?
- How much of the $20 billion remains accessible given the spending law's repeal of unobligated funds?