Judge Blocks Trump Administration From Terminating 14 Billion In 'green Bank' Grants

A federal judge on Tuesday blocked the Trump administration from terminating 14 billion in grants awarded to three climate groups by the Biden administration, saying the government's "vague and unsubstantiated assertions of fraud are insufficient."

The order by U.S. District Judge Tonya Chutkan prevents - for now - the Environmental Protection Agency from ending the grant program, which totaled 20 billion. The judge also blocked Citibank, which holds the money on behalf of EPA, from transferring it to the government or anyone else.

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin accused the grant recipients of mismanagement, fraud and self-dealing and froze the grants. But after reviewing arguments in the case, Chutkan said Zeldin's allegations fell short.

"At this juncture, EPA Defendants have not sufficiently explained why unilaterally terminating Plaintiffs' grant awards was a rational precursor to reviewing" the green bank program, Chutkan wrote.

She was the third judge of the day to rule against the Trump administration. The trio of rulings came within hours of an extraordinary conflict, as President Donald Trump called for the impeachment another judge who had temporarily blocked deportation flights. Trump's message drew a rare rebuke from Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts.