Climate Group Loses Federal Funding Over ‘Free Palestine’ Statement
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has canceled funding for the Climate Justice Alliance (CJA), a grassroots environmental organization that faced political backlash after calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. The group was set to receive over $50 million under the Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) but has now lost access to those funds.
EPA Cancels $50 Million Grant for Climate Justice Alliance
The CJA was one of 11 organizations chosen by the EPA in 2023 to distribute subgrants for local environmental projects in historically underserved communities. The funding was intended to help vulnerable populations suffering from pollution, particularly communities of color. However, after CJA publicly supported a ceasefire in Gaza and used the phrase “free Palestine,” it became a target of conservative attacks.
In response to the backlash, a group of federal employees wrote an open letter last year, warning that CJA had been unfairly singled out. Despite this, the EPA under Trump’s administration officially withdrew its funding. On Thursday, the Trump-appointed EPA chief announced the cancellation on social media.
Impact of the Cancelled Grant on Environmental Justice
The revoked funding would have supported locally led projects aimed at protecting public health, reducing pollution, and creating sustainable job opportunities. CJA executive director KD Chavez criticized the decision, stating, “This program would have clearly benefited taxpayers and working-class families.”
CJA was responsible for distributing subgrants in EPA regions 8–10, covering much of the Western U.S., including states like Colorado, Montana, and Washington. Additionally, it was the primary grantmaker in charge of outreach to tribal communities. The organization had already spent $1.6 million of its own operational budget to prepare for the program, expecting the federal funds to be released.
Political Shifts Threaten Climate Justice Programs
The Biden administration attempted to allocate the majority of Inflation Reduction Act funds before Donald Trump returned to office, as Trump had pledged to rescind unspent climate-related funding. While other grantmakers received their funding, CJA was left out.
Now, the Trump administration is actively dismantling environmental justice programs. It has placed approximately 170 employees in the EPA’s Office of Environmental Justice on administrative leave. Additionally, it is working to block other Biden-era climate and clean energy initiatives, including $20 billion allocated for the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund under the IRA.
CJA condemned the decision in a statement, saying, “The Biden administration and the EPA did not heed the call of communities, and their legacy is now one of broken promises to frontline communities.”
