The House Energy and Commerce Committee published a report on Monday criticizing the Biden-Harris administration for directing substantial taxpayer funding to left-leaning activist groups under the banner of “environmental justice.”
The report claims that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) used hundreds of millions from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)—President Biden’s landmark climate policy—to fund organizations that align with the administration’s climate and energy goals.
According to lawmakers, the funding practice resembles “a taxpayer-funded lobbying operation.”
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The report alleges that the EPA awarded grants to activist groups advocating for drastic measures like the elimination of fossil fuels, often at odds with a balanced energy strategy that includes fossil energy sources. It describes taxpayer funding of organizations such as the Climate Justice Alliance, which received $50 million and has taken stands against fossil fuels, nuclear energy, and, more recently, expressed support for Palestinians in the Israel-Hamas conflict.
“While EPA has instituted a thorough, competitive process for grant allocation, we maintain program integrity and ensure that grant activities align with federal regulations,” an EPA spokesperson told the Daily Caller News Foundation. The spokesperson emphasized that safeguards are in place to monitor compliance and transparency in line with the administration’s environmental justice objectives.
Additional EPA grant recipients include WE ACT for Environmental Justice, the Southern Environmental Law Center, and the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice. The report claims these organizations have previously engaged in political advocacy, raising concerns over the agency’s funding choices.
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The committee’s report also criticized the EPA’s use of intermediary grant organizations, warning that accelerated timelines for fund distribution could increase the potential for waste, fraud, and abuse.
In a joint statement, Republican Representatives Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA), Morgan Griffith (VA), and Buddy Carter (GA) said, “The Biden-Harris administration is prioritizing its environmental special interests over the American people, directing millions to politically engaged activists. Legislation rushed through Congress by Democrats enabled unchecked spending, with little accountability or oversight against waste and fraud. Equally troubling is how these policies align with interests benefiting China, the world’s largest polluter.”
The report sheds light on the Biden administration’s strategy, raising concerns about environmental funding being diverted to politically active organizations rather than direct environmental projects.
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