ICYMI: Blunt Rochester, Whitehouse Lead EPW Democrats in Demanding EPA Reverse Unlawful Termination of Grants for Clean Air and Water

New documents reveal 400 grantees are being illegally targeted for termination and expose EPA’s willful violation of congressional appropriations law, contractual agreements, and multiple court orders
March 26, 2025
Washington, D.C.– In case you missed it,U.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), ranking member of the committee,led all Democratic Committee members indemandingEnvironmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin reverse his illegal termination of congressionally authorized grants aimed at eliminating childhood lead poisoning, reducing toxic air pollution, and mitigating health risks from heat and wildfires, among other essential purposes.  Along with the letter, the Committee released never-before-seen, internal EPA documents that list400 grantstargeted for termination and expose that the agency knowingly andwillfully violatedcontractual obligations and court orders.
As he continues todeliverfor the fossil fuel industry, Administrator Zeldin is escalating his assault on theConstitution, on theenvironment, and on the American people by guttinginvestmentsthat would lower household energy costs, spur economic growth, and cut pollution. The Associated Press reported on the story, which can be foundhere.
“According to documents obtained exclusively by Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works Democratic Staff, including a list produced by your office of roughly400 grantstargeted for termination, you pursued these terminations inknowing violationof the Terms and Conditions clauses of EPA’s contracts, which stipulate conditions under which a grant can be terminated.  We call on you to follow the law, cease and desist implementation of EO 14151, rescind the grant terminations, and provide information on EPA’s decision-making process concerning the grant terminations and wider closure of the Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights,”wrote Senators Blunt Rochester, Whitehouse, Sanders, Merkley, Markey, Kelly, Padilla, Schiff, and Alsobrooks.
Administrator Zeldinannouncedon March 10, 2025, that in a joint effort with the so-called “Department of Government Efficiency,” EPA had terminated more than 400 grants that would have invested $1.7 billion to improve air and water quality and enhance resilience to extreme weather in communities across the United States.  The vast majority of the grants were made using Congressionally appropriated funds under a statutory mandate.  Any attempt to withhold the funds violates the Impoundment Control Act and Congress’s constitutional Article I spending authority, which Administrator Zeldin explicitly promised not to do at his confirmationhearing.
Furthermore, “EPA’s grant terminations were made knowing that they violate EPA’s own contracts. According to information obtained exclusively by EPW Democratic Staff, termination notices sent by EPA to grantees knowingly and deceptively cited contract language that was not actually in many of the contracts in an effort to shift the burden to grantees to challenge your illegal terminations in the courts,”continued the Senators.
EPW Democrats aredemandingthat EPA immediately reverse any terminations already made and cease and desist making further unlawful terminations.  EPW Democrats are also requesting that EPA, in accordance with commitments the EPA Administrator made during his confirmation hearing, produce documents and information related to the illegal clawbacks by March 31, 2025.
New DocumentsClickhereto read the full letter, co-led by Ranking Member Whitehouse and Senator Blunt Rochester and signed by all Democratic members of the Committee.
Click here for the list of400 EPA grantstargeted for termination.
Click here forinternal emailsthat expose how EPA knowingly and willfully violated its own contracts and court orders.
Clickhereandherefor sample termination letters, which cite contract language that did not appear in the respective grant contracts.
Whistleblower Tipline
If you were affected by these grant terminations or would like to contact the Ranking Member to make a protected disclosure of information, please emailDem_Whistleblowers@epw.senate.gov. The right to share information is protected by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution and applicable laws.
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Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester represents Delaware in the United States Senate where she serves on the Committees on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; Commerce, Science, and Transportation; Environment and Public Works; and Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.