Energy Secretary Slams “Lame-Duck” Spending Spree as Wasteful and Unvetted
The Trump administration has canceled $3.7 billion in climate-related grants approved during the final days of Joe Biden’s presidency—calling them a waste of taxpayer money that failed to serve the public.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright announced the decision Friday, stating the 24 projects—greenlit after Biden’s 2024 defeat—lacked financial justification, delivered no clear return on investment, and did not align with America’s real energy needs.
Billions Signed Away in Biden’s Final Weeks
According to a comprehensive review by the Department of Energy, nearly 70% of these grants were rushed through between Election Day (November 5, 2024) and Biden’s final day in office (January 20, 2025).
Most of the grants funded carbon capture and underground storage, along with experimental projects tied to cleaner cement and alternative natural gas systems.
Trump Admin: Putting America’s Interests First
“We are restoring fiscal sanity,” said Wright. “The Biden administration handed out billions without serious review. We’re protecting hardworking taxpayers, securing energy independence, and investing only in projects that strengthen national security and economic resilience.”
Among the largest grants revoked:
- $500 million to Heidelberg Materials (Indiana)
- $375 million to Eastman Chemical (Texas)
- $332 million to ExxonMobil’s Baytown refinery (Texas)
These initiatives were part of Biden’s broader push to fund climate technologies. But many, the administration says, offered no measurable public benefit and were approved with zero economic accountability.
“Green New Scam”: Trump Rejects Radical Climate Agenda
While climate activists argue that CO₂ emissions are the leading cause of global warming, President Trump has long rejected the climate change hysteria—branding it the “Green New Scam,” a play on the far-left’s Green New Deal pushed by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and progressive Democrats.
The Trump administration is now moving swiftly to dismantle Biden’s legacy of bloated environmental regulations and reckless subsidies.
Environmental Groups Push Back—Trump Team Stands Firm
Critics from the climate lobby quickly condemned the decision. One group, the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, claimed the cancellations could lead to the loss of 25,000 jobs and $4.6 billion in projected economic output.
But conservative economists and industry insiders praised the move, calling it a common-sense rollback of wasteful government overreach.
“These were fantasy projects driven by ideology, not by science or economics,” one energy analyst told Fox News.
Trump’s Vision: Energy Freedom, Not Government Control
The announcement was made during the Reagan National Economic Forum at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, where Secretary Wright spoke proudly of Trump’s executive orders to unleash American energy and remove “crippling regulations” that had strangled coal and nuclear development.
Wright even noted that Biden’s restrictions on Alaska exceeded those placed on North Korea, Iran, and Venezuela combined.
“We’re unlocking our resources, supporting our workers, and ending the war on American energy,” Wright said. “This is about jobs, security, and restoring American greatness.”
✅ Key Takeaways for American Taxpayers
- $3.7B in climate grants canceled
- 70% approved in Biden’s lame-duck period
- Focus shifted to coal, nuclear, and real energy solutions
- Trump prioritizes ROI, energy security, and American jobs
