Federal court rules EPA grant terminations were illegal 

CHARLESTON – In a decision issued today, South Carolina’s federal district court ruled today that EPA’s decision last spring to terminate the Environmental and Climate Justice Block Grant Program was illegal and vacates the agency’s decision, requiring EPA to implement the $2.8 billion program.  

The Southern Environmental Law Center, in partnership with the Public Rights Project, filed this case in March 2025 challenging the Trump administration’s freeze and subsequent termination of a host of federal grants.  

The following statement is attributable to SELC Litigation Director Kym Meyer:  

“This decision is a huge win for all the communities—like North Charleston—harmed by these politically motivated and illegal terminations. This critical work to build energy efficient affordable homes, reduce pollution, and make neighborhoods more resilient to climate change should never have been disrupted in the first place. We look forward to seeing this important program resume to help the families and communities these critical projects serve.”