Trump administration cancels $7.6 B energy grants over states' politics

The U.S. Department of Energy eliminated nearly $8 billion in clean‑energy grants in October, hours after a government shutdown began. In court filings, DOE principal deputy general counsel Jeffrey Novak conceded that the cancellations were based solely on the political identity of the recipient states, targeting those that voted for Kamala Harris in the 2024 election. The cuts included a $1.2 billion grant for a California hydrogen hub and funding for projects in 15 other blue‑state locations.

Democratic lawmakers and environmental groups condemned the move as a partisan weaponization of federal funds. Rep. Marcy Kaptur and Sen. Patty Murray called for the administration to restore the grants and hold the president accountable, while state officials, such as Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, demanded the release of the withheld money for their jurisdictions.