The EPA plans to cut hundreds of subsidies. Democrats say it’s illegal

California legislators this week joined an indignant democrat choir demanding that the opposite Environmental Protection plans to end hundreds of clean and water -based subsidies – a decision they call illegal.

EPA internal documents published by the US Senate Committee on the Environment and Public Works include a list of around 400 targeted subsidies for elimination, including 62 in California. The subsidies aim to reduce lead poisoning of childhood, to improve air quality and to alleviate the risks for the health of extreme heat and forest fires, among other purposes.

The cessation of subsidies in question violates a certain number of judicial orders and degenerates the Trump administration’s attempts to “set up equity and propelled by the congress, a low cost energy”, read a letter of March 25 signed by the nine Democratic Senators of the Committee, notably Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla of California.

The letter was sent to Lee Zeldin, the EPA administrator of President Trump, who has already taken measures to withdraw regulations and intestinal environmental protections, long confirmed by the Federal Agency.

The EPA announced for the first time its plans (in collaboration with the unofficial department of Elon Musk, or DOGE) to cancel the subsidies on March 10, describing them as “unnecessary programs” costing more than $ 1.7 billion to the American people.

According to EPA internal documents, these subsidies, which vary from $ 20,000 to $ 20 million, include efforts such as infantile asthma by improving air quality in affordable housing; Improve the preparation of forest fires in agricultural workers’ communities; And improve drinking water on tribal land.

Many subsidies provided for cancellation have been funded through the Historical Climate Act of President Biden, the law on inflation reduction.

The majority also contains elements of environmental justice, which aims to rectify inequalities such as extreme heat and pollution that disproportionately load low -income communities and colored communities. This is an integral part of the broader Trump administration project to eliminate programs in all sectors that have something to do with the movement of diversity, equity and inclusion.

In California, the 62 non -profit organizations and groups that have seen the cuts include the food bank of Contra Costa and Solano, which lost a subsidy of $ 155,000 for a project to provide food to communities in need in Vallejo, and the Community Water Center, a non -profit subsidy for a goalless justice program.

Another group from the list, the Los Angeles Neighbourhood Trust, has lost a subsidy of $ 500,000 intended to help plan fair development projects along the river in northeast Los Angeles, according to executive director Tori Kjer. Kjer said that certain funds were going to be disbursed to other groups in the region for affordable housing, tenants’ rights and parks projects.

Kjer said that EPA had not informed the organization of the cup; The group has contacted several times by asking for more information but has not obtained an answer.

“It is just astounding that it even happens,” said Kjer. “But it’s a kind of new era for everyone. All this is an unexplored territory.”

The EPA justified its discounts by a Trump decree to order the heads of federal agencies to end offices and positions relating to environmental justice and diversity, equity and inclusion. (EPA has also recently announced its intention to close its environmental court and external rights office and place nearly 170 employees on leave.)

But the Senators’ letter maintains that the termination of grant programs consists of violating contractual obligations and judicial orders.

The subsidies were granted using funds allocated by the congress with the explicit requirement that they are distributed to disadvantaged communities – including $ 3 billion in the law on the reduction of inflation designated for environmental protections in communities faced with economic difficulties.

During his confirmation hearing in January, Zeldin said his obligation to ensure that the financing of the EPA would be spent following the congress.

“Me, if I am confirmed as an EPA administrator, I do not reduce any funding,” said Zeldin at the hearing. “This is a decision, with regard to financing levels, so that the congress is. Whatever the level of financing that Congress decides will be the number that I am determined to fulfill my obligation to be a good tax intendant and to spend the intention of the congress. ”

In addition, the senators said that the continuous implementation by the EPA of the management of Trump violates the recent decisions of the Federal Court – including a temporary prohibition order prohibiting the administration from freezing, blocking or canceling the disbursement of appropriate federal funds.

The Committee also unveiled the internal emails of EPA officials who seem to recognize that the cancellations of subsidies are illegal.

The order of termination of environmental justice subsidies “has been made knowing that certain subsidies do not contain (terms and conditions) concerning the dismissal for the priorities of the agency,” wrote a member of the EPA Advocate General in an email obtained by the Committee. The terms and conditions specify the capacity of the EPA to unilaterally terminate a subsidy according to the modifications of the plans and priorities of the agency.

Senators call on EPA to interrupt its implementation of the decree, to cancel its subsidy dismissals and to provide additional information on its decision -making process surrounding the environmental and Dei programs.

“The illegal, arbitrary and capricious endings of the EPA from subsidies (environmental justice) programs eliminate non-partisan and non-supporter federal programs that clean air and water and protect Americans against natural disasters,” they wrote.

“Beyond the obvious problems with the confusion of” Dei “and” environmental justice “, these EPA subsidies have helped to guarantee that all people – regardless of immutable features – enjoy a healthy environment.”