After Gov. Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania announced that the frozen federal funds previously withheld by the Trump administration have been released, over $2.1 billion in federal funds are now accessible for various environmental and energy projects in the state. The funds, approved by Congress for efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, cut utility costs for low-income residents, and address leaking oil and gas wells, among other things, had been frozen unconstitutionally by the Trump administration.
Shapiro sued the Trump administration earlier this month to release the funds and argued that the agreements were binding, and a deal had to be honored. Following his advocacy at the White House, the funds started flowing to school districts across the country, indicating a release of the funds. Despite this, Shapiro plans to pursue the lawsuit until obtaining a final judgment or binding agreement requiring the Trump administration to comply with its legal obligations.
The funds were part of key initiatives, such as the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, aimed at addressing climate change and supporting energy and environmental projects. State Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler applauded Shapiro’s work in resolving the issue and criticized the Trump administration for attempting to govern through executive orders and withholding crucial funding that hurts working people.
U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser, who expressed intent to run for governor in 2026, criticized Shapiro for filing a lawsuit but acknowledged the release of the funds and the resolution of the issue through collaboration with the Trump administration. The release of funds comes as a relief to various projects in Pennsylvania that aim to tackle climate change and support energy efficiency initiatives.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image associated with the presented article. Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to use the original images. However, you can still enjoy the accurate and up-to-date content and information provided.
