The Biden administration’s lax oversight on billions in climate and infrastructure funding has left taxpayers at risk of fraud and abuse.
Story Highlights
- An EPA audit reveals $38.1 billion in grants were poorly monitored, risking waste and fraud.
- The House Oversight Committee labels Biden’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund a “Green New Deal scam.”
- Lee Zeldin, Trump’s EPA Administrator, has terminated major Biden-era grant initiatives.
- Republican-led investigations are underway to address alleged favoritism and mismanagement.
EPA Audit Uncovers Oversight Failures
The Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted an audit of grants awarded from 2021 to 2024 under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). The audit uncovered significant deficiencies in monitoring plans and maintenance of grant files for approximately $38.1 billion in active grants. Missing or incomplete monitoring plans were found across multiple regions, raising concerns about the risk of fraud, waste, and abuse.
The audit concluded that the EPA’s inability to ensure consistent monitoring and recipient compliance with federal rules has left large sums of taxpayer money vulnerable. These findings have prompted the Trump administration and Republican-led House committees to call for accountability and corrective measures to safeguard public funds.
House Oversight Committee’s Stance
The Republican-led House Oversight Committee, along with EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, has criticized the design and award process of the $27 billion Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF). The fund, which includes a $7 billion “Solar for All” component, has been labeled a “Green New Deal scam” by Zeldin and others. They argue that the fund routes climate money through nonprofits closely tied to Democratic allies, with conflicts of interest and reduced oversight, leading to potential misuse of funds.
In response to these findings, Zeldin has terminated GGRF grant agreements and launched broader investigations into alleged favoritism and political use of climate funds. The House Oversight Committee has issued a report claiming that the Biden administration expanded “broken” spending programs and funneled billions to politically connected nonprofits with insufficient oversight.
Political Implications and Future Actions
The transition to the Trump administration in January 2025 has intensified scrutiny on Biden-era environmental and climate programs. The new leadership at the EPA is using the OIG’s findings to justify policy reversals and rescissions, portraying Biden’s initiatives as wasteful and ideologically driven. The Republican majority in the House Oversight Committee continues to investigate the alleged mismanagement, with a focus on linking these issues to broader narratives about government overreach and fiscal irresponsibility.
These developments highlight ongoing tensions between executive oversight bodies and the administration, with the potential for significant policy shifts in the management of federal grants and climate-related funding.
Sources:
Oversight End of Year Report 2025
Oversight Committee Report on Green New Deal Scam
