Trump Administration Sparks Bipartisan Backlash With $7.5B Energy Grant Cuts
The Trump administration has sparked controversy by terminating over $7.5 billion in energy grants, primarily impacting districts represented by the Democratic party. The move, hailed by the White House as a means to dismantle the 'Green New Scam', has drawn criticism from both sides of the aisle.
At least 28 Republican lawmakers' districts will also be affected, despite the majority of cuts targeting the Democratic party's districts. The cancellations include a $20 million award for Moment Energy's battery manufacturing facility, slated for construction in a Republican's district in Texas. Rep. Tom McClintock (R-Calif.) supported the cuts, arguing that companies should succeed through customer satisfaction, not subsidies.
The Department of Energy canceled a $6 million grant for a rural electric cooperative in Colorado. Four California House Republicans previously urged the DOE not to cancel funding for the ARCHES hydrogen hub, one of the cancellations with the highest dollar amount. Rep. Gabe Evans (R-Colo.) toured United Power's natural gas plant, signaling a shift away from coal.
White House Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought justified the cancellations as retribution against the Democratic party. Over a dozen Republican states have been affected, with a total of $8 billion in renewable energy project funding cut, though specific states are not detailed.
The cancellations, which include significant cuts to the DOE's hydrogen hub program, have been criticized by House Appropriations ranking member Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), who argues that Americans from both parties will suffer the consequences. The political fallout from these decisions remains to be seen.
