Upcoming Project and Program Implementation Webinars
- January 29 @ 3:00PM – 4:00PM ET – January State Climate Policy Network National Call – Register Here.
- January 31, 2025 @ 12:00PM – 1:30PM – Webinar on RISE PA Grant Program for Industrial Decarbonization, PA Solar Center, PA DEP & PennTAP – Register Here.
- January 31, 2025 @ 2:00PM-3:00PM – Understanding Recent Executive Orders – C40 Cities, Climate Mayors, Urban Sustain. Directors & Bloomberg Amer. Sustain. Cities. This Webinar will provide information on recent Executive Orders impacting local climate work, offering legal insights & actions for cities. Register Here.
- January 31, 2025 @ 5:00PM ET – Deadline – The Solar for Schools grant program, funded with $25 million in state funds that will cover up to 50% of costs for installing solar in public school districts, charter schools, and community colleges.
- February 6, 2025 @ 2:00PM – 3:00PM – PA United’s long-term co-governance strategy in Allegheny County – Register Here
- February 20, 2025 @ 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM ET – Community Event – Reimagine Appalachia – Community Benefits Network Webinar on Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) & how they deliver value to taxpayers, and how to effectively include them in your economic development projects. Register Here. Background Briefing on Community Benefits Agreement Here.
Executive Orders: Impacts on Project and Program Implementation
On Monday afternoon, January 27, 2025, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a Memorandum (attached) temporarily pausing all federal grants, loans, and other financial assistance programs and disbursements. On Tuesday, January 28, 2025, OMB issued a “Q&A” document with a clarifications. The “temporary pause” was set to take effect at 5:00PM ET on January 28, 2025. On Tuesday, January 28, 2025, a federal judge temporarily blocked the actions outlined in the OMB memorandum, until Monday, February 3, 2025.
- Federal judge temporarily blocks Trump administration freeze on federal grants and loans – by Chris Megerian, AP – January 28, 2025 Updated 5:34 PM EST – A federal judge on Tuesday temporarily blocked a push from President Donald Trump to pause federal funding while his administration conducts an across-the-board ideological review to uproot progressive initiatives.
- Judge pauses Trump’s federal funding freeze as confusion and frustration spread – By Asma Khalid, Franco Ordoñez, Deirdre Walsh, Barbara Sprunt, Ashley Lopez – National Public Radio – January 28, 2025 7:04 PM ET – A federal judge has temporarily blocked an effort by the Trump administration to pause federal payments for grants and other programs, suspending a plan that caused widespread confusion on Tuesday. The judge’s pause on the order is in effect until Monday, Feb. 3, 2025.
- Federal Judge Blocks Trump’s Freeze of Federal Grant Funds – by Mattathias Schwartz and Benjamin Oreskes – New York Times – January 28, 2025 – A judge in Washington, D.C., has sided with activists who claimed the White House’s freezing of billions of dollars in already approved funding violated the law.
- The lack of detail in the funding freeze has left state and local agencies at a loss – by J. David Goodman, Jack Healy and Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs – New York Times – January 28, 2025 – The Trump administration’s order to freeze trillions of dollars in federal grants and loans prompted confusion across state capitols and local government offices on Tuesday, leaving them at a loss on how to even calculate its impact. Officials got a temporary reprieve late in the day when a federal judge in the District of Columbia blocked the order just as it was set to go into effect
- White House pauses all federal grants, sparking confusion – By Jeff Stein, Jacob Bogage, and Emily Davies, Washington Post, January 27, 2025 – Trillions of dollars could be on hold, according to an Office of Management and Budget memo. The White House budget office is ordering a pause to all grants and loans disbursed by the federal government, according to an internal memo sent to agencies Monday, creating significant confusion across Washington. The temporary pause is effective on January 28, 2025, at 5:00PM.
- Trump Executive Orders on Energy and Environment: A Quick Summary Background info by Michael Gerrard, Columbia Law School – Sabin Center – January 21, 2025
Executive Orders & OMB Memos Relevant to Green Bank Funding
On January 20th, 2025, President Trump issued two Executive Orders potentially impacting Solar for All Funding and related Greenhouse Gas Reduction Funds.
On January 27, 2025, an Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Memorandum required “Federal agencies to identify and review all Federal financial assistance programs and supporting activities consistent with the President’s policies and requirements,” and to suspend distribution of this funding while the review was underway. The funding pause went into effect on January 28, at 5:00 p.m.
Court Order on 1/27/25 OMB Memorandum
On January 28, 2025, Judge Loren L. Alikhan of the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia issued a temporary stay of the OMB 1/27/25 Memorandum. “ORDER. For the reasons stated in the attached document, it is hereby ORDERED that an ADMINISTRATIVE STAY is entered until 5:00 p.m. on February 3, 2025 . It is further ORDERED that Defendants shall respond to Plaintiffs’ request for a temporary restraining order by 5:00 p.m. on January 30, 2025, and that Plaintiffs shall file a reply, if any, by 5:00 p.m. on January 31, 2025. The parties shall convene for a hearing on Plaintiffs’ motion at 11:00 a.m. on February 3, 2025, in Courtroom 21. Signed by Judge AliKhan on 1/28/2025.
OMB “Recission” of 1/27/25 Memorandum
On January 29th, 2025, OMB issued a memo rescinding the guidance. The memo from OMB Acting Director Vaeth read, “OMB Memorandum M-25-13 is rescinded. If you have questions about implementing the President’s Executive Orders, please contact your agency General Counsel.” However, as per White House statements, the executive orders “remain in effect.” News Reports include:
Current EPA Actions on Green Banks on OMB Memorandum
On January 30, 2025 – news outlets have reported that notwithstanding the above:
EPA cuts off IRA solar money already under contract – E&E News by Jean Chemnick, January 30, 2025 – Recipients of the $7 billion Solar For All program were locked out of an online portal that’s used to distribute federal funding. EPA sent letters to recipients of a nationwide solar program on Tuesday informing them that their grants had been paused until further notice. The Solar for All program recipients — state and local government agencies and a few nonprofits — have signed contracts with EPA amounting to $7 billion.
Climate Action Campaign (CAC) Statement — Action Network Alert from Kimberly Wills kwills@cacampaign.org
Reports indicate that the Environmental Protection Agency, under new management as of 10 days ago, has frozen $7 billion in contracts awarded through the Solar for All program to deliver clean energy and lower prices to vulnerable communities. This action comes amidst widespread confusion about arbitrary budget cuts and grant freezes that were implemented on Monday, reversed on Tuesday while the White House Press Secretary denied the order was rescinded.
CAC is asking you to post on your social media platforms calling for the Trump administration to restore these lawful contracts and allow these important investments to proceed as contracted. You can find CAC’s social guidance here.
This administration is only concerned with putting polluters over people and gambling with jobs, our economic future, and our health. By blocking $7 billion in existing contracts established by the EPA’s Solar for All program, the Trump administration is literally defunding communities and driving up electricity bills. Newly confirmed EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin promised to abide by the law while leading the agency. His first act should be to restore these lawful contracts and allow these important investments to proceed as contracted.
Energy Committee hears testimony on Solar for All authorization – Press Release Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus – February 4, 2025
HARRISBURG, Feb. 4 – Today, the newly established House Energy Committee held a public hearing to consider legislation (H.B. 362) introduced by Committee Chairwoman Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler, D-Phila., authorizing a Solar for All program.
OMB/Funding Freeze (including BIL/IRA Funds) – Two Federal Court Orders
A judge in Washington said she would further block the White House’s spending freeze. – by Charlie Savage – Feb. 3, 2025 – New York Times – A federal judge on Monday temporarily blocked the Trump administration from imposing a sweeping freeze on trillions of dollars in federal grants and loans, adding to the pushback against an effort by the White House’s Office and Management & Budget (full article is in the attached Word document).
BLOCKING A SPENDING FREEZE – Read the Court Order and Opinion (no paywall).
Second federal judge issues temporary order blocking Trump spending freeze – by Jennifer Shutt – February 3, 2025 – Rhode Island Current – A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order Monday, blocking the Trump administration from implementing a spending freeze on grant and loan programs that was outlined in a memo released last week, but has since been rescinded. Judge Loren L. AliKhan of the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia became the 2nd federal judge to issue such an order, following a ruling Friday from Chief Judge John J. McConnell Jr. of the U.S. District Court in Rhode Island.
2nd judge to block Trump’s spending freeze says the policy is likely unconstitutional – by Kyle Cheney & Josh Gerstein – Politico – 01/31/2025 – The Court Order prevents the administration from carrying out any systematic defunding efforts while litigation continues.
Second federal judge seems to be prepared to block Trump spending pause – by: Jennifer Shutt – PA Capital-Star – January 29, 2025 – A second federal judge appears ready to issue an order blocking the Trump administration from freezing funding on grant and loan programs, despite a move by the Office of Management and Budget to rescind a controversial memo Wednesday just before the hearing.
Impacts of OMB/Federal Funding Freeze
Trump’s early moves are terrifying Washington. A legal resistance is imminent. – by Kyle Cheney – Politico – 02/04/2025 — All eyes are now on federal courts, where challenges to these decisions are slowly starting to take shape. President Donald Trump’s era of retribution has begun. A wave of legal resistance is next.
Trump’s Halt on Climate Spending Freezes Jobs and Stalls Projects by Lisa Friedman and Brad Plumer, February 1, 2025 – New York Times – The pause affects billions of dollars and is delaying home repairs, factory construction and other projects, many in states that voted Republican.
Elon Musk’s Team Now Has Access to Treasury’s Payments System – by Andrew Duehren Maggie Haberman Theodore Schleifer and Alan Rappeport, February 1, 2025 – New York Times – Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent gave Mr. Musk’s representatives at the so-called Department of Government Efficiency a powerful tool to monitor and potentially limit government spending.
E.P.A. Tells More Than 1,000 They Could Be Fired ‘Immediately’ – by Lisa Friedman, February 3, 2025 – New York Times – A spokeswoman for Lee Zeldin, the new head of the agency, said the goal was to create an “effective and efficient” federal work force.
EPA cuts off IRA solar money already under contract – by Jean Chemnick – E&E News – January 30, 2025 – Recipients of the $7 billion Solar For All program were locked out of an online portal that’s used to distribute federal funding.
Background/Analysis/What’s Next
How Government Grants Actually Turn Into Cash – by Emily Pontecorvo, HeatMap, January 28, 2025 – Here’s why Trump’s funding freeze created so much chaos.
The Memo That Shocked the White House – By Ashley Parker, The Atlantic, Jan. 29, 2025 — The directive from the Office of Management and Budget that froze most federal funds on Monday had not gone through the usual approval process.
Two judges challenged Trump’s federal funding freeze. What happens now? – By Jessica Levinson, MSNBC Columnist – February 4, 2025 – Trump’s attempt to, even temporarily, pause federal grants and loans most likely flies in the face of our constitutionally constructed separation of powers… Get ready for this pattern to continue. Step 1: The Trump administration takes an action that expands the power of the executive branch and most likely violates federal law. Step 2: Someone sues and a federal judge blocks the Trump administration’s action. Step 3: The Trump administration argues that the law blocking its ability to proceed itself violates the Constitution. Under this argument, even if the Trump administration violated a federal law, it had the right to do so, because the law itself is invalid. Step 4: We collectively hold our breath while we wait for a final word from the Supreme Court.
Who You Can Contact If Funding Is Frozen
Lawyers for Good Government – Request for Legal Guidance Form
L4GG is dedicated to ensuring that grantees and sub-awardees of BIL/IRA federal programs are protected from threats to their funds. If you have a legal question about how to protect funding, please fill out the form below and L4GG will provide support as resources allow. https://www.lawyersforgoodgovernment.org/fund-protection-legal-guidance-request.
Has Your Nonprofit Been Affected by Federal Funding Cuts? We Want to Hear From You. by David A. Fahrenthold – January 31, 2025 – New York Times – The Trump administration is slashing federal grants. The New York Times wants to talk to nonprofits that have lost funding — or fear they might.
Earthjustice – As part of our advocacy work, Earthjustice is looking to identify instances in which organizations had been expecting to receive IRA or IIJA funding which has been denied under the new administration. Have any coalition members had this experience? If so, and if you would like to share, please contact me directly. Devin McDougall @ dmcdougall@earthjustice.org – Earthjustice Philadelphia Office.