The Biden Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has quickly allocated billions in taxpayer dollars to various Democratic interests, as revealed by documents from the watchdog group Protect the Public’s Trust (PPT). These documents indicate that the Biden EPA has distributed grants from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF), which amounts to $20 billion directed towards nonprofit organizations affiliated with Democratic supporters and insiders. Notably, the guidelines allow adjustments to the terms even post-award. The EPA is under pressure to disburse these funds before the September 2024 deadline, and it appears staff have been advised to sidestep any unresolved issues to meet this timeline.
PPT director Michael Chamberlain remarked that as more information about the GGRF comes to light, the entire scheme appears increasingly tenuous. He emphasized that once federal employees start reducing deficits and speeding up the process, it becomes evident that taxpayer money is at risk. Documents indicate that the Biden EPA aims to secure this “mandated” cash before it expires on September 30, 2024, which, he suggests, can sometimes lead to serious consequences for individuals involved.
In August 2024, the Biden EPA established a timeline allowing for alterations to the terms post-deadline, stating that unresolved matters should be settled by December 31, 2024. Concerns were raised in May 2024 regarding the GGRF’s transparency and oversight. Officials defended the program, asserting it was closely monitored, but they also acknowledged the potential for terms to change after the funding deadline. They cited other EPA programs as evidence of expertise, although these were either new or smaller in scope compared to the GGRF.
Chamberlain further highlighted the situation, likening it to a sinking ship and questioning the haste to fund these groups. Several recipients of GGRF funds have ties to Democratic donors and former Obama and Biden officials. The funding initiative was part of Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, and prior reports mentioned concerns over excessive salaries and financial practices of federal judges overseeing these issues.
Among the notable recipients are organizations like the Green Capital Union (CGC) and Power Forward Community (PFC), both of which have faced scrutiny regarding their ties to Democratic insiders. The CGC chose not to comment, while the PFC did not respond to inquiries. The Climate United Fund stated that changes to their terms were administrative and clarified details about oversight; they maintained that adjusting terms isn’t typical and insisted that the EPA has been transparent regarding the GGRF.
Chamberlain concluded that the current situation highlights a serious mismanagement of taxpayer resources. A proposed substantial bill aimed to abolish the GGRF program, which raised eyebrows about the handling of remaining funds. Investigations by the agency’s inspectors, the DOJ, and the FBI are ongoing to evaluate potential fraud and misappropriation of funds related to the GGRF.
As of February, the EPA had frozen multiple accounts linked to Citibank, affecting several grantees, who subsequently took legal action against both the agency and the bank. The legal dispute centers on whether the freeze was justified, with a court ruling ordering the release of those funds back to the EPA.
