“Governor Shapiro Restores Federal Funding to Pennsylvania for Climate Programs – What This Means for the State”
Federal funding to Pennsylvania for climate-related and other programs will be restored, Governor Josh Shapiro announced, following a lawsuit against the Trump administration. The freeze on $2.1 billion in federal funds committed to Pennsylvania, including money for mine remediation, greenhouse gas reduction, and energy cost reduction, was challenged by Shapiro and 22 other states.
The funds, which had been frozen by the Trump administration, included $369.1 million for a program to reduce climate pollution under the Inflation Reduction Act and $264 million for a restoration program for abandoned wells. After legal action and a federal judge’s order, the funds have now been unfrozen and will be supplied to state agencies as originally planned.
Governor Shapiro stated that all the funds identified in the lawsuit have been unfrozen and will be accessible to Pennsylvania state agencies. He emphasized the importance of resuming critical programs and infrastructure projects that were jeopardized by the funding freeze.
While the specified funds have been restored, former DEP secretary David Hess warned that other federally funded parts of the DEP budget are still at risk. Programs on air and water quality, worth around $50 million a year to the DEP, could face cuts from the Trump administration.
Despite the release of the funds, Governor Shapiro’s administration will continue with the lawsuit until a final judgment or binding agreement is reached requiring the Trump administration to comply with its legal obligations.
The restoration of funding comes after Governor Shapiro’s direct engagement with Trump administration officials, leading to the funds being unfrozen. However, environmental programs operated by the state on behalf of the federal government could still face uncertainty until the risk is cleared up.
The lawsuit filed by Governor Shapiro and other states highlights the importance of federal funding for environmental programs and the need to ensure compliance with legal obligations. The ongoing work of organizations like Inside Climate News, a nonprofit dedicated to reporting on climate and the environment, plays a crucial role in keeping the public informed and holding polluters accountable.
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