Kilmer & McCollum, other Democratic Appropriators Demand More Information on Trump’s EPA Grant Freeze, Request GAO Review
Representative Derek Kilmer (D-WA), Repreesntative Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.), Ranking Member of the House Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, and other Democratic members of the Subcommittee wrote to President Donald Trump on Thursday demanding more information about his administration’s freeze on Environmental Protection Agency grants.
“We are deeply distressed that your transition team has ordered the EPA to freeze grants and contracts and that it has prohibited EPA staff from communicating with elected officials and state and local grant recipients,” the lawmakers wrote. “To halt funding for the vital work of these public and private institutions is unprecedented and unacceptable.”
The letter also raises serious concerns about the Trump administration’s EPA communication blackout and urges Trump to reverse it immediately.
“The Administration failed to notify Congress and the state environmental agencies of its freeze on EPA grant and contract funds and has refused to respond to state agency inquiries,” the lawmakers wrote. “State agencies are an essential partner in protecting public health and the environment. The Administration’s deliberate communication blackout is unacceptable and must be reversed.”
In the letter, the lawmakers request information from the administration about the grants and contracts that were frozen and any directives sent to EPA employees about the freeze or their communications about it. The Democratic lawmakers are also requesting the U.S. Government Accountability Office review whether the Trump administration’s actions violate the Impoundment Control Act of 1974 or other appropriations law.
In addition to Congresswoman McCollum, the letter is signed by House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.) and Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee members Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), Derek Kilmer (D-Wash.), and Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio).
The full text of the letter is below (and available here):
President Trump:
As Members of the United States House of Representatives Appropriations Subcommittee that funds the Environmental Protection Agency, we are deeply distressed that your transition team has ordered the EPA to freeze grants and contracts and that it has prohibited EPA staff from communicating with elected officials and state and local grant recipients.
As you are well aware, Congress appropriated funding for these grants and contracts so that EPA can carry out its vital mission to protect the health of the American people and our environment. Nearly half of the EPA budget goes to grants and contracts to the States, Tribes, non-profits, educational institutions, and others to advance human health and environmental safeguards. To halt funding for the vital work of these public and private institutions is unprecedented and unacceptable. This action is counter to the intent of Congress, which holds and exercises the power to direct such funds.
The Administration failed to notify Congress and the state environmental agencies of its freeze on EPA grant and contract funds and has refused to respond to state agency inquiries. State agencies are an essential partner in protecting public health and the environment. The Administration’s deliberate communication blackout is unacceptable and must be reversed.
In order for Congress to better understand the impact of these actions on the funding for which we have oversight jurisdiction, we ask that you provide the following information:
- A complete list of the grants and contracts that were frozen under this action and their corresponding recipients.
- Any communications sent to EPA employees instituting this freeze and restricting their communication.
- A summary of any findings resulting from the team’s review and their plans going forward for the grants and contracts.
Furthermore, we will be requesting that the U.S. Government Accountability Office review whether the Administration’s actions run afoul of the Impoundment Control Act of 1974 and other appropriations law.
Sincerely,
Betty McCollum
Nita Lowey
Chellie Pingree
Derek Kilmer
Marcy Kaptur
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