"While career prosecutors in two U.S. attorney offices and a U.S. judge balked at a court-ordered freeze, Citibank has locked down billions without explanation"
"FBI agents this week questioned Environmental Protection Agency employees regarding a Biden administration grant program for climate and clean-energy projects, escalating a criminal probe that already caused one veteran prosecutor to resign, according to two people familiar with the matter.
The move came after the Justice Department in recent weeks took unusual steps to advance the investigation, having a Trump-appointed U.S. attorney submit a warrant request when career prosecutors were unwilling and seeking prosecutors in other offices who would agree to participate in the case, people familiar with the matter said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to disclose internal deliberations about an ongoing criminal investigation.
At issue are grants totaling $20 billion under the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, a program established in President Joe Biden’s signature 2022 climate law. The fund seeks to leverage public and private dollars to invest in clean-energy technologies such as solar panels, heat pumps and more, including through community lenders in low-income areas. The Trump-appointed EPA administrator has alleged publicly that the money was awarded with little oversight and said the agency would try to claw back the money from Citibank, which was tasked with disbursing the funds."
Spencer S. Hsu, Maxine Joselow and Nicolás Rivero report for the Washington Post February 27, 2025.
SEE ALSO:
"Groups Frozen Out Of $20B in EPA Cash Fear Bankruptcy" (E&E News)
"The $20 Billion Controversy Over E.P.A. Climate Funds, Explained" (New York Times)
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