Rep. Barragán Challenges EPA Administrator on Grant Fraud Allegations

Barragán Questions Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund

• 💡 Rep. Nanette Barragán highlights the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund as a program designed to leverage private capital for community-led projects that reduce pollution, create jobs, and lower energy costs.
• 📌 Several organizations were competitively awarded funding, but their money has reportedly been frozen.

Lack of Evidence for Accusations

• 🔍 Barragán directly questions EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin regarding accusations made against grant awardees and former EPA employees.
• ⚖️ She notes that EPA attorneys have not presented these accusations in court, and a judge in a case brought by a recipient asked for evidence of fraud, conflict of interest, bribery, or gratuity violations, to which the EPA lawyer responded, "I cannot, your honor."
• 📰 A New York Times report indicated that the Department of Justice's investigation into the program has so far failed to find meaningful evidence of criminality by government officials.

Zeldin's Cited Examples

• 🗣️ Administrator Zeldin cites a quote from a "Biden political appointee" about getting money out quickly before a potential Trump administration, comparing it to "throwing gold bars off the edge" of the Titanic.
• ⚠️ Barragán dismisses this as not evidence of fraud or wrongdoing related to the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund.
• 🤝 Zeldin also mentions David Hayes, a Biden administration climate adviser who previously served on the board of Coalition for Green Capital, rejoining the board in 2023 while the organization was applying for and received funding.
• ❓ Barragán questions whether Zeldin or EPA lawyers have actually provided this information to the DOJ or cited it as fraud or criminality.

EPA Lawyer's Statements

• 🚫 When asked if EPA lawyers had cited specific examples as illegal or improper, an EPA lawyer reportedly stated, "I'm certainly not suggesting any of that was illegal or improper."
• 🗣️ Another EPA lawyer at a hearing suggested, "We're not accusing anybody of fraud."
• 📺 Barragán points out that Zeldin previously alleged criminality in a Fox News interview and criticizes him for making such allegations without offering evidence.