Lee Zeldin, the new administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), announced the cancellation of a controversial $50 million environmental justice grant that was part of the Biden administration’s funding initiatives. Zeldin made this announcement during an appearance on "The Story with Martha MacCallum," where he expressed his concerns about the grant being awarded to the Climate Justice Alliance, an organization that he claimed promotes a political agenda linked to the phrase "climate justice travels through a Free Palestine."
Zeldin, who took office at the end of January, stated, "I think that the American taxpayer wouldn’t want $50 million going to this left-wing advocacy group. It’s canceled." His comments reflect a broader effort by the current administration to scrutinize and potentially reverse funding decisions made by the previous administration, particularly those that are perceived as politically motivated.
In addition to canceling the grant, Zeldin highlighted that Congress had also expressed opposition to the funding. This move is part of a larger strategy by Zeldin to identify and recover taxpayer funds that he believes were mismanaged under the Biden administration. He recently announced that his team has uncovered approximately $20 billion in taxpayer money that was wasted during that time.
Zeldin’s criticism extends beyond the grant cancellation. He pointed to a specific instance where the EPA allocated $160 million to a Canadian electric bus manufacturer, which subsequently declared bankruptcy without delivering $95 million worth of school buses to 55 school districts. "It’s the American taxpayer that gets screwed," Zeldin remarked, emphasizing the need for accountability in federal spending.
The EPA’s current leadership is actively seeking to recover what Zeldin referred to as "gold bars"—a metaphor for taxpayer money that he claims was wasted. He mentioned plans to locate these funds, which he stated are "parked at an outside financial institution," although he did not disclose any details about the institution.
Zeldin’s actions and statements are indicative of a broader agenda under the Trump administration, which has established the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) led by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk. This department aims to cut government spending and increase efficiency across federal agencies. As part of this initiative, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Scott Turner recently announced the formation of a DOGE Task Force to identify and eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse within government operations.
As the EPA continues to reevaluate past funding decisions, the agency’s new direction under Zeldin suggests a commitment to fiscal responsibility and a focus on ensuring that taxpayer dollars are used effectively.