Judge rules that Trump's EPA terminated the $7 billion solar grant program illegally
Federal judge in Rhode Island ruled on Friday that the?President Donald Trump administration's administration illegally canceled a $7 Billion?grant? program intended to expand solar energy in low income communities.
US District Judge Mary McElroy, in Provision, sided with several nonprofits, solar companies and labor unions in finding the Environmental Protection Agency, under its administrator Lee Zeldin exceeded its authority by rescinding grants that were previously awarded last year.
Solar United, a nonprofit organization that was not a direct grant recipient, and the Rhode Island AFL-CIO are among the plaintiffs. They claim they would have benefited from the Solar for All Program, launched by Democratic President Joe Biden.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed by Trump into law in July 2025, eliminated funding for the program. A?month after that, Zeldin terminated the program and called it a "boondoggle".
McElroy stated that EPA was able to retain over $3 billion for administrative costs related to grant programs. She stated that Congress clearly intended EPA to continue administering grants already awarded.
She said that the defendants had terminated SFA in violation of this intent and without any other legal authority.
The judge, a Trump appointee originally nominated by Democratic president Barack Obama, vacated EPA's termination program.
Requests for comments from the EPA or plaintiffs were not immediately responded to.
The EPA awarded 'the grants' in 2024 to 60 non-profit groups, tribes and state. The EPA claimed that the program would benefit nearly '1 million households in most US states by lowering their electricity costs and reducing emissions.
The Inflation Reduction Act, signed by Biden in 2022, was the signature "climate investment law" of Congress.
There are several lawsuits pending over the termination of "the program". The Court of Federal Claims is a specialist court that has been tasked with resolving claims for money lost due to grant terminations.
(source: Reuters)
