WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is cancelling $7.6 billion in grants that supported hundreds of clean energy projects in 16 states, all of which voted for Democrat Kamala Harris in last year’s presidential election.
The cuts were announced in a social media post late Wednesday by Russell Vought, the White House budget director: 'Nearly $8 billion in Green New Scam funding to fuel the Left’s climate agenda is being cancelled.'
The move comes as President Donald Trump threatens additional cuts and firings during his ongoing dispute with congressional Democrats over the federal government shutdown.
These cuts are likely to affect various initiatives including battery plants, hydrogen technology projects, upgrades to the electric grid, and carbon-capture efforts, according to the environmental nonprofit Natural Resources Defense Council.
The Energy Department stated that 223 projects were terminated after a review concluded they did not adequately advance the nation’s energy needs or were not economically viable. However, officials did not provide specific details about which projects were cut.
The cancellation includes $1.2 billion designated for California’s hydrogen hub, which is intended to enhance hydrogen technology and production. California's Governor Gavin Newsom stated that this withdrawal jeopardizes over 200,000 jobs.
'Clean hydrogen deserves to be part of California’s energy future — creating hundreds of thousands of new jobs and saving billions in health costs,' Newsom emphasized.
California Democratic Sen. Alex Padilla described the cancellation of the project as 'vindictive, shortsighted and proof this administration is not serious about American energy dominance.'
The DOE indicated that it reviewed billions in grants awarded under the Biden administration after Trump's electoral victory, noting that a substantial portion was awarded between Election Day and Inauguration Day.
'President Trump promised to protect taxpayer dollars and expand America’s supply of affordable, reliable, and secure energy. Today’s cancellations deliver on that commitment,' said Energy Secretary Chris Wright.
As the Trump administration continues to target climate programs, the Environmental Protection Agency has proposed rolling back emission regulations, with critics arguing that such moves could worsen environmental challenges.
Democrats and environmental organizations have condemned the recent cuts, asserting that they will lead to increased energy costs and stifle innovation in clean energy technologies. Jackie Wong, a senior vice president at NRDC, remarked, 'This is yet another blow by the Trump administration against innovative technology, jobs and the clean energy needed to meet skyrocketing demand.'
Vought mentioned that the projects targeted by these cuts are spread across California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington state.
