“Trump Administration Freezes Hundreds of Millions in Environmental Funding – Pennsylvania Fights Back in Lawsuit”
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, claiming that the state has lost hundreds of millions of federal dollars in environmental and climate-related programs due to a funding freeze. The lawsuit alleges that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other federal agencies do not have the legal authority to cut funding authorized by Congress.
Multiple states have already sued over the blocked funding, with a judge ruling that the Trump administration was defying temporary restraining orders. The latest lawsuit filed by the Shapiro administration in federal court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania seeks to declare the funding freeze illegal and restore the flow of federal funds to Pennsylvania agencies.
As of February 12, $1.2 billion in federal funding that was due to be paid to Pennsylvania agencies has been frozen, with an additional $900 million subject to federal review. This funding includes grants for clean-water infrastructure, programs to reduce greenhouse gas pollution, and funds for remediation of abandoned mines and maintenance of public water systems.
The lawsuit also highlights the impact of the funding freeze on ongoing projects and jobs in Pennsylvania. The state’s Department of Environmental Protection is facing debts for projects that cannot be reimbursed due to the freeze, putting jobs at risk in programs related to industrial decarbonization, mine cleanup, and energy efficiency.
Environmental groups have welcomed the lawsuit and condemned the Trump administration’s actions, stating that the withholding of congressionally authorized investments is causing harm to real people. Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania and the Ohio River Valley Institute have called for an end to the funding freeze, citing the impact on the environment, workers, and the economy.
The lawsuit represents a pushback against the Trump administration’s policies, with advocates urging for the restoration of federal funding to support critical environmental and climate-related programs in Pennsylvania. The outcome of the lawsuit will have significant implications for the state’s ability to address environmental challenges and create sustainable solutions for the future.