A group of state attorneys general has accused the Trump administration of persistently blocking access to federal funding for state climate programs, defying a court order to unfreeze the funds.
Legal Battle Over Federal Funding
The coalition of 22 state attorneys general and Washington, D.C.’s attorney general took action to enforce a federal judge’s injunction against President Donald Trump's extensive pause on federal funding, which the states legally challenged on January 28.
California's Stance
During a virtual press conference to announce the motion, California’s Attorney General Rob Bonta emphasized, “The reality is that we shouldn’t have to be here. If the president followed the law, we wouldn’t have to be here.” Bonta highlighted the administration's ongoing obstruction of grants under the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, despite the court order mandating fund disbursement.
Violation of Court Order
Bonta condemned the administration's refusal to release funds, labeling it a blatant violation of the court order. He outlined the programs affected by the funding freeze, including the Home Electrification and Appliances Rebates Program, the Solar for All initiative, the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant program, and the national air monitoring network and research program.
Judicial Intervention
Following the states' legal action, U.S. District Judge John McConnell, appointed by President Barack Obama, directed the Justice Department to address the alleged violations promptly. The ongoing legal battle underscores the critical importance of federal funding for state climate initiatives.