EPA Termination of Environmental Justice for New England Program

We are proud to be one of 36 organizations to receive a grant from Environmental Justice for New England (EJforNE), but unfortunately, the EPA terminated the program. Last week, Earth Justice, Southern Environmental Law Center, Public Rights Project, and Lawyers for Good Government (L4GG) filed a class action lawsuit against the EPA for unlawfully terminating the Environment and Climate Justice Grant programs despite a Congressional directive to fund them. The challenge seeks the nationwide restoration of the program and would require the administration to reinstate awarded grant agreements. 

See the press release from our friends at EarthJustice below:

Nonprofits, Tribes and Local Governments Sue Trump Administration for Terminating EPA Grant Programs

Terminating these programs leaves communities more vulnerable to pollution and disasters

WASHINGTON, D.C. — 

Today, a coalition of nonprofits, Tribes and local governments sued the Trump administration for unlawfully terminating the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Environmental and Climate Justice (ECJ) Grant programs despite a Congressional directive to fund them.

The plaintiffs come from every region of the country and will be seeking class action certification and preliminary relief so that all 350 grant recipients who have been harmed by the wholesale termination of the EPA program may continue their initiatives. These community-based initiatives include improving climate disaster preparedness, expanding workforce development opportunities, improving and monitoring air quality, mitigating stormwater and flood damage, combating high energy costs, and improving community members’ ability to participate in decision-making and permitting processes that impact their health and environment.

Earthjustice, Southern Environmental Law Center, Public Rights Project, and Lawyers for Good Government filed the challenge on behalf of ECJ grant recipients to seek the nationwide restoration of the program and to require the administration to reinstate awarded grant agreements.

“Unlawfully ending this program threatens the ability of local governments to protect their people and the environment,” said Jon Miller, Chief Program Officer, Public Rights Project. “This case isn’t just about restoring grant funding in a handful of places — it’s about restoring critical services and projects in areas of the country with the greatest need. We’re fighting alongside our partners to right the wrongs of the past and chart a healthier path forward for thousands of organizations, Tribes and communities.”

Read the full press release here.