Federal Judge Rules EPA Termination of Environmental Justice Grants Unlawful

A federal judge in South Carolina ruled this week that the Environmental Protection Agency's termination of environmental justice grants was unlawful. The ruling voided the agency's decision to eliminate the $2.8 billion Environmental and Climate Justice Block Grant Program but stopped short of ordering the agency to resume the program or extend its September funding deadline.

The judge found that reinstating the program would likely require rehiring staff already terminated by the administration, an action the court described as impractical. The lawsuit was filed by the Southern Environmental Law Center in partnership with the Public Rights Project.

The program was created under the Inflation Reduction Act during the prior administration to fund projects reducing pollution, improving public health, and addressing climate risks in communities across the country. Grants were awarded to local groups and governments for initiatives such as air quality monitoring, infrastructure upgrades, and heat mitigation.

One recipient, the nonprofit CleanAIRE NC, received $500,000 to install air sensors in four communities in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. The organization said the data would help residents in areas near highways and industrial sites advocate for cleaner air.

At the start of the current term, executive orders directed agencies to pause Inflation Reduction Act funding and terminate environmental justice offices where legally permissible. An EPA official told the court the program was ended for policy reasons.

A spokesperson for the agency said it is reviewing the decision. The Southern Environmental Law Center stated it is assessing next steps and hopes to discuss implementation with the agency. In a prior case involving individual grants under the same program, a federal appeals court overturned an earlier ruling in favor of the plaintiffs.