Summary
A U.S. judge ruled that President Donald Trump's administration acted against the law by stopping clean energy grants to Democratic-led states. The decision stated that these actions violated constitutional protections. The grants were meant to help create projects like battery plants and hydrogen technology.
Key Facts
- President Trump's administration blocked $7.6 billion in clean energy grants.
- The targeted states had voted for Democrat Kamala Harris in the 2024 election.
- U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta said this act violated the Constitution's equal protection clause.
- The grants were supposed to support clean energy projects in 16 states, including California and Washington.
- The decision to cut funding came during a government shutdown in October.
- The city of St. Paul, Minnesota, along with environmental groups, filed a lawsuit against this decision.
- This ruling is the second legal challenge for Trump’s efforts to cut clean energy programs.
- Another judge allowed work on an offshore wind farm for Rhode Island and Connecticut to continue.
