A coalition of 21 House Republicans, led by Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY), is pushing back against efforts to dismantle one of former President Joe Biden’s signature achievements—the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)—as Congress gears up to fund President Donald Trump’s ambitious first-year legislative agenda.
In a letter sent Sunday to House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (R-MO), the group urged lawmakers to preserve hundreds of billions of dollars in green energy tax credits enacted under the IRA in August 2022, warning that cuts could jeopardize energy affordability and U.S. energy dominance.
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The letter, signed by a mix of GOP veterans and freshmen including Reps. Jennifer Kiggans (R-VA), Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ), and Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA), signals potential fissures within the party as it navigates the budget reconciliation process.
With Trump and GOP leaders eyeing spending cuts to offset tax breaks and other priorities, the defense of Biden’s clean energy incentives suggests that finding savings elsewhere may be necessary—a challenge for a party aiming to deliver on its “America First” promises without alienating its own ranks.
“We strongly support the Administration’s America First national energy dominance initiative,” the lawmakers wrote, aligning their stance with Trump’s broader energy goals. “Continued energy expansion and innovation is necessary to bolster national security, create good-paying American jobs, and guarantee energy independence.” They argued that the IRA’s tax credits—supporting both traditional and renewable energy—have spurred significant private investment, warning that abrupt repeals could spike utility bills, disrupt energy projects, and undermine domestic manufacturing, particularly in GOP-led states.
The credits, which include the Clean Electricity Investment Tax Credit and Production Tax Credit, have fueled a boom in energy infrastructure, from solar farms to advanced manufacturing plants. The lawmakers highlighted their decade-long timelines, noting that businesses have relied on this stability for planning and capital allocation.
“Any modifications that inhibit our ability to deploy new energy production risk sparking an energy crisis,” they cautioned, pointing to “direct passthrough benefits to ratepayers” that could vanish overnight if repealed.
The pushback comes as House Republicans prepare to reconcile Trump’s tax and spending agenda, with the Ways and Means Committee tasked with identifying fiscal offsets.
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While the letter acknowledges “shortcomings in our tax code” ripe for reform, it calls for a “targeted and pragmatic” approach that avoids upending current investments. The signatories—representing districts from New York to California—position themselves as partners in crafting a bill that balances fiscal responsibility with energy affordability, a nod to the political and economic stakes in their regions.
The move underscores a growing divide within the GOP. While Trump has repeatedly derided the IRA as a “green new scam” and vowed to gut its provisions, some Republicans see value in its economic ripple effects. Rep. Garbarino, who co-chairs the bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus, has emerged as a key voice, warning that axing the credits risks losing support from moderates and members in swing districts where clean energy jobs are taking root.
For Smith and GOP leaders, the letter complicates an already delicate task.
With a slim House majority and a Senate eager to fast-track Trump’s agenda, any reconciliation bill needs near-unanimous party support to pass via the filibuster-proof process.
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The credits’ defenders argue they align with Trump’s goals of energy dominance and job creation, but hardline fiscal conservatives may balk at preserving what they view as Biden-era “corporate welfare.”
As the debate unfolds, the energy tax credits—once a Democratic hallmark—are proving a thorny test of GOP unity. With billions in investments and millions of ratepayers in the balance, the outcome could shape not only Trump’s legislative kickoff but also the party’s approach to climate and energy policy in a polarized Washington.
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