Federal Government Releases $2.1 Billion in Previously Frozen Funds for Pennsylvania

Governor Josh Shapiro's lawsuit and advocacy efforts compel the Trump administration to unfreeze funds allocated for environmental and energy projects.

The Trump administration has released over $2.1 billion in federal funds for Pennsylvania after Governor Josh Shapiro's legal challenge and direct advocacy efforts.
The funds, originally frozen in January, were intended for projects such as cleaning up abandoned mines, plugging orphan wells, and improving energy efficiency in homes.
Shapiro's lawsuit argued that the funding freeze was unconstitutional, as the funds had already been approved by Congress through laws like the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
The funding freeze had delayed critical environmental and energy initiatives, including a $400 million program to reduce industrial carbon emissions and $156 million for solar accessibility for low-income households.
Despite the release of funds, Shapiro's administration plans to continue the lawsuit to secure a binding judgment ensuring compliance with federal funding agreements.

The Philadelphia Inquirer