Trump Administration Admits Targeting $8 Billion in Grants Based on Politics

The Trump administration admitted in court filings that it canceled 284 federal clean energy grants, totaling nearly $8 billion, based solely on the political identity of the recipient states. The terminated funds targeted 16 states that voted for Kamala Harris in the 2024 election and are represented by two Democratic-caucusing senators. These cuts included a $1.2 billion hydrogen hub in California and $583 million for projects in Illinois.

Department of Energy principal deputy general counsel Jeff Novak stated in the filings that the cancellations were not based on programmatic, statutory, or performance factors. This admission contradicts previous claims by Energy Secretary Chris Wright, who denied political motivations during a House hearing. Documents revealed that while the agency initially recommended canceling over 600 grants, 340 projects were spared specifically because they were located in states that backed Donald Trump or have at least one Republican senator.

White House Budget Director Russell Vought characterized the move as removing "Green New Scam funding" used to fuel a climate agenda. The cuts occurred in October 2025, during a government shutdown, as the president sought leverage over Democratic lawmakers to pass a spending bill. In response, Governor J.B. Pritzker and senators Patty Murray and Marcy Kaptur condemned the actions as an abuse of power and a political attack.

The administration is now finalizing rules to grant political appointees greater control over $1 trillion in annual federal grants, allowing them to revoke funding that does not align with presidential priorities.