Senate Environment Committee Democrats press Zeldin on grants freeze

Democrats on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on Friday called on newly-confirmed Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin to answer questions about the Trump administration’s pause on Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funds.

The members specifically cited recent reports that in a letter to recipients of grants under the IRA’s Solar for All program, the EPA said all climate and infrastructure grants had been paused. The letter pointed to executive orders signed by President Trump aimed at speeding fossil fuel development.

The members cited Zeldin’s testimony during his confirmation hearing before the committee, when he was asked if he “believe[s] that the president or executive branch can ignore congressional appropriation decisions and instructions.” Zeldin responded, “If confirmed, I pledge to respect all of Congress’s duly enacted statutes.”

They went on to ask the legal justification for the pause of the Solar for All funds, as well as when the EPA intends to end the pause for Solar for All and other EPA grant programs.

The letter is signed by ranking member Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and the panel’s entire Democratic membership, Sens. Ed Markey (Mass.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (Del.), Mark Kelly (Ariz.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Adam Schiff (Calif.), Alex Padilla (Calif.), Angela Alsobrooks (Md.) and Jeff Merkley (Ore.).

Trump’s order, one of a flurry signed within hours of his inauguration, directed the federal government to “immediately pause the disbursement of funds” from the IRA and the smaller Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Two days later, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) clarified the order, saying it specifically relates to climate change mitigation and electric vehicle charging-related activities.

The fight over the order echoes the furor surrounding an OMB memo issued earlier this week freezing all federal grants and loans. That order sparked bipartisan pushback and chaos over services like Medicaid.

Democratic lawmakers have called the move a violation of the Impoundment Control Act, which limits the executive branch’s power to withhold funding passed by Congress. Russell Vought, Trump’s nominee for OMB director, said in his confirmation hearings that he believes the law to be unconstitutional.

The White House rescinded the memo days later, and two federal judges have ruled against the administration.

An EPA spokesperson told The Hill the agency "will review the letter and will respond through appropriate channels."

— Updated at 4:44 p.m. EST

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