Democrats say EPA illegally canceled hundreds of grants aimed at boosting 'environmental justice'

The Environmental Protection Agency illegally canceled grants worth more than $1.5 billion focused on improving the environment in minority communities hit hard by pollution, Senate Democrats say.

- Michael Phillis, Alexa

Hundreds of grants were awarded by former President Joe Biden's administration under a 2022 law that directed the EPA to spend $3 billion on grants to help low-income and minority communities improve their air, and water and protect against climate change. Those environmental justice efforts were a major priority under Biden.

President Donald Trump's administration, however, has cut funding, grants, and people focused on environmental justice. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced on March 10, 2025, that he was canceling more than 400 "DEI and Environmental Justice grants" totaling $1.7 billion. In a post on X, Zeldin said the cuts were the fourth -- and biggest -- round of EPA/Department of Government Efficiency cuts.

All nine Democrats on the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works signed the letter to Zeldin, dated Monday. It demands information from the EPA about the terminated grants and eliminated environmental justice employees and asks the agency to explain its plans to "combat pollution specifically in marginalized communities."

"The vast majority of the targeted grant awards were made using funds appropriated by Congress with a statutory mandate that they be distributed to disadvantaged communities," according to the senators' letter.

The senators also accused the EPA of violating court orders and rules for terminating grants.

An EPA statement said the terminations will not stop.