$20 billion in taxpayer money was handed over to far-left environmental groups under a “shady deal” that House Oversight Chairman James Comer says was designed to evade scrutiny and reward Biden’s political allies.
At a Glance
- House Oversight Chairman James Comer is investigating the distribution of $20 billion to environmental groups with alleged ties to the Biden administration
- The funds were distributed through the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund created by the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act with minimal oversight
- EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin terminated these grant agreements in March 2025 due to concerns over waste, fraud, and abuse
- Power Forward Communities, linked to Stacey Abrams, received a $2 billion grant despite reporting only $100 in revenue in 2023
- The FBI is investigating potential criminal violations related to the grants
Comer Expands Investigation Into “Self-Dealing” Environmental Grants
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer is ramping up an investigation into what he describes as a massive scheme by the Biden administration to funnel taxpayer dollars to political allies under the guise of environmental initiatives. The investigation targets approximately $20 billion in grants distributed through the EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to various environmental organizations, with allegations of conflicts of interest, mismanagement, and deliberate attempts to evade congressional oversight.
Comer probes NGOs that received $20B in Biden EPA grants despite almost no revenue: 'Shady deal' https://t.co/CvDY9Efu4M
— Fox News (@FoxNews) March 27, 2025
The grants were created as part of the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act and were meant to support environmental justice projects in disadvantaged communities. However, Comer and other Republicans contend that these funds were deliberately placed with an outside financial institution in an attempt to shield the distribution process from proper government oversight. This arrangement has triggered multiple investigations, including inquiries by the EPA’s own inspector general and potentially the FBI.
Suspicious Grant Recipients Raise Red Flags
One of the most eyebrow-raising cases involves Power Forward Communities, an organization with ties to former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams. Despite reporting only $100 in revenue in 2023, this organization somehow secured a $2 billion grant. This extraordinary discrepancy has become a focal point of the investigation, raising serious questions about the criteria used to select grant recipients and whether political connections played a decisive role in the award process.
“The Biden EPA tried to dodge any oversight by striking a shady deal with a financial institution to cover up its corrupt self-dealing that rewarded political cronies pushing a far-left environmental agenda,” said James Comer.
In total, eight organizations received portions of the $20 billion in question, distributed through the $14 billion National Clean Investment Fund and the $6 billion Clean Communities Investment Accelerator. All eight organizations have now received letters from the House Oversight Committee requesting detailed information about their grants, their qualifications, and their relationships with Biden administration officials.
EPA Administrator Takes Decisive Action
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, appointed under the Trump administration, moved to terminate these grant agreements in March 2025, citing significant concerns about waste, fraud, and abuse. However, this decision is currently being contested in court, leaving the funds in a state of limbo. The situation has been further complicated by allegations that a $5 billion payment went to a former director of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, raising serious conflict of interest concerns.
“All this money was put up front. It was ‘here is $20 billion.’ And it was going to their friends on the left,” stated Lee Zeldin.
The EPA’s acting inspector general has launched an investigation into the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund for potential financial mismanagement and oversight failures. This internal investigation runs parallel to the congressional probe, suggesting that concerns about the program’s integrity extend beyond partisan politics. Some grant recipients have expressed willingness to cooperate with investigators, with Climate United emphasizing its commitment to transparency.
Broader Investigation Into Green New Deal Programs
The scrutiny of these EPA grants is part of a larger examination of Biden-era environmental initiatives that Republicans have consistently criticized as wasteful and ideologically driven. In February 2025, Chairman Comer launched an investigation into energy and environmental policies from the Biden administration that allegedly increased prices and limited consumer choices without delivering the promised environmental benefits.
“The radical environmental groups profiting from Biden’s Green New Deal must be held accountable for their misuse of taxpayer-funded grants and provide information for our investigation,” asserted James Comer.
The investigation has bipartisan implications, as concerns about proper stewardship of taxpayer dollars and potential conflicts of interest should transcend party lines. President Trump’s administration has emphasized transparency and accountability in government spending, making this investigation consistent with broader efforts to ensure taxpayer funds are not being misused for political purposes or diverted to unqualified organizations based on connections rather than merit.
