President Donald Trump is getting the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to work against its own mission by gutting a multi-billion dollar solar project. The EPA on Thursday terminated a $7 billion grant program intended to help pay for residential solar projects for more than 900,000 lower-income U.S. households, in the latest Trump administration move hindering the nation’s shift to cleaner energy.
Trump has been aggressively working to halt all renewable energy programmes in the United States. The Trump administration also imposed stricter regulatory reviews on renewable projects, particularly those on federal lands, causing significant delays and uncertainty for developers.
Additionally, offshore wind permits were halted, further restricting clean energy growth. These actions collectively signaled a pivot away from renewable energy in favor of fossil fuels, creating a chilling effect on the industry and shaking investor confidence. The policies contributed to reduced financing and slower deployment of clean energy infrastructure, impacting the broader U.S. commitment to sustainable energy development during a critical time for climate action.
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This grant cancellation happens to be the latest in Trump’s war against renewable energy.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said in a statement on social media that authority for the solar program was eliminated under the tax-and-spending law signed by Trump last month. It eliminated the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, approved under the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, that set aside $20 billion for community development projects to boost renewable energy and an additional $7 billion for the solar program.
“The bottom line is this: EPA no longer has the statutory authority to administer the program or the appropriated funds to keep this boondoggle alive,″ Zeldin said. “Today, the Trump EPA is announcing that we are ending Solar for All for good, saving US taxpayers ANOTHER $7 BILLION!”
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt, who introduced the Solar for All program to cut electric bills for working families, said Zeldin’s action was illegal.
“Solar for All means lower utility bills, many thousands of good-paying jobs and real action to address the existential threat of climate change,″ Sanders said in a statement. ”At a time when working families are getting crushed by skyrocketing energy costs and the planet is literally burning, sabotaging this program isn’t just wrong — it’s absolutely insane. We will fight back to preserve this enormously important program.”
By withdrawing support for renewable energy projects, the administration risks slowing technological innovation and widening economic disparities as low-income families lose access to affordable clean energy options.
What is the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)?
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is a U.S. federal government agency established in 1970 to protect human health and the environment. Its primary mission is to regulate and enforce laws that reduce pollution, oversee air and water quality, manage hazardous waste, and promote sustainable environmental practices. The EPA sets standards and guidelines for industries, monitors environmental conditions, and supports research to address environmental issues like climate change, chemical safety, and conservation.