Blab Politics
South Carolina Judge Orders EPA to Re-Distribute $2.8 B Climate Justice Grants
On July 24, 2026, U.S. District Judge Richard Gergel in Columbia issued a decisive order that will bring a long‑delayed stream of federal funding back into the hands of communities that have long borne the brunt of environmental harm. The judge told the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to resume disbursing the $2.8 billion Environmental and Climate Justice Block Grant Program—an initiative born under the Inflation Reduction Act and designed to tackle air and water quality, hazardous waste exposure, and climate‑related health risks in underserved neighborhoods.
The order follows Judge Gergel’s earlier June ruling, in which he voided the Trump administration’s termination of the program. While that decision declared the cancellation unlawful, it stopped short of compelling the EPA to restart the grants. Now the judge has made it clear that the agency must act to meet its statutory obligations and deliver the promised resources.
"The EPA’s decision to terminate the program was contrary to the intent of Congress and the statutory framework of the Inflation Reduction Act," the judge wrote. "The agency must now act to fulfill its obligations under the law and to deliver the promised resources to the communities that need them most."
The program, launched by the Biden administration, earmarks up to $2.8 billion over five years, with a deadline of September 30, 2026. Grants fund projects that improve air and water quality, reduce hazardous waste exposure, and address climate‑related health risks in communities that have historically faced disproportionate environmental burdens.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin’s agency has been under scrutiny for its handling of environmental justice issues during the Trump years, which included the cancellation of several federal programs aimed at protecting vulnerable populations. The new order is part of a broader trend of federal courts stepping in to enforce statutory mandates in the environmental arena.
The block grant has already supported projects in states such as Nevada, where the EPA awarded $20 million to help tribal communities build climate resilience. It also backs infrastructure upgrades, renewable energy projects, and public‑health interventions in low‑income and minority neighborhoods.
"This ruling restores a critical funding stream that was cut off by the previous administration," a spokesperson for the EPA said. "The agency will begin processing applications and disbursing funds in the coming weeks. The program’s deadline of September 30, 2026, remains in effect, and the EPA will work to meet that timeline."
The judge’s decision clarifies that the EPA must comply with all statutory requirements for grant distribution, including public notice, application procedures, and reporting obligations. The agency has announced it will publish a revised guidance document to align with the directive.
The order is expected to benefit thousands of residents in communities that have long faced higher levels of pollution and climate vulnerability. The EPA projects that the program could reduce health risks associated with air pollution, improve water quality, and support climate adaptation efforts.
Judge Gergel’s ruling comes amid a series of legal challenges to the Trump administration’s environmental policies. In 2025, a federal court in Virginia struck down a rule that would have weakened the Clean Power Plan, and in 2024, a court in Maryland halted a federal grant program that supported renewable energy projects.
The EPA’s compliance with the new order will be monitored by the U.S. Department of Justice and the agency’s Office of Inspector General. The agency has pledged to provide quarterly updates on grant distribution and to ensure that the program’s objectives are met.
The EPA is expected to release a detailed implementation plan by the end of August 2026, and the first round of grant applications will reopen in September. The program’s deadline of September 30, 2026, remains unchanged, and the agency will work to meet that timeline.
The ruling is a significant step toward restoring federal support for environmental justice initiatives that were curtailed by the previous administration. The EPA’s next actions will determine how quickly the $2.8 billion in grant funds can be made available to the communities that need them most.
The order follows Judge Gergel’s earlier June ruling, in which he voided the Trump administration’s termination of the program. While that decision declared the cancellation unlawful, it stopped short of compelling the EPA to restart the grants. Now the judge has made it clear that the agency must act to meet its statutory obligations and deliver the promised resources.
"The EPA’s decision to terminate the program was contrary to the intent of Congress and the statutory framework of the Inflation Reduction Act," the judge wrote. "The agency must now act to fulfill its obligations under the law and to deliver the promised resources to the communities that need them most."
The program, launched by the Biden administration, earmarks up to $2.8 billion over five years, with a deadline of September 30, 2026. Grants fund projects that improve air and water quality, reduce hazardous waste exposure, and address climate‑related health risks in communities that have historically faced disproportionate environmental burdens.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin’s agency has been under scrutiny for its handling of environmental justice issues during the Trump years, which included the cancellation of several federal programs aimed at protecting vulnerable populations. The new order is part of a broader trend of federal courts stepping in to enforce statutory mandates in the environmental arena.
The block grant has already supported projects in states such as Nevada, where the EPA awarded $20 million to help tribal communities build climate resilience. It also backs infrastructure upgrades, renewable energy projects, and public‑health interventions in low‑income and minority neighborhoods.
"This ruling restores a critical funding stream that was cut off by the previous administration," a spokesperson for the EPA said. "The agency will begin processing applications and disbursing funds in the coming weeks. The program’s deadline of September 30, 2026, remains in effect, and the EPA will work to meet that timeline."
The judge’s decision clarifies that the EPA must comply with all statutory requirements for grant distribution, including public notice, application procedures, and reporting obligations. The agency has announced it will publish a revised guidance document to align with the directive.
The order is expected to benefit thousands of residents in communities that have long faced higher levels of pollution and climate vulnerability. The EPA projects that the program could reduce health risks associated with air pollution, improve water quality, and support climate adaptation efforts.
Judge Gergel’s ruling comes amid a series of legal challenges to the Trump administration’s environmental policies. In 2025, a federal court in Virginia struck down a rule that would have weakened the Clean Power Plan, and in 2024, a court in Maryland halted a federal grant program that supported renewable energy projects.
The EPA’s compliance with the new order will be monitored by the U.S. Department of Justice and the agency’s Office of Inspector General. The agency has pledged to provide quarterly updates on grant distribution and to ensure that the program’s objectives are met.
The EPA is expected to release a detailed implementation plan by the end of August 2026, and the first round of grant applications will reopen in September. The program’s deadline of September 30, 2026, remains unchanged, and the agency will work to meet that timeline.
The ruling is a significant step toward restoring federal support for environmental justice initiatives that were curtailed by the previous administration. The EPA’s next actions will determine how quickly the $2.8 billion in grant funds can be made available to the communities that need them most.
