Mikaela Tajo

While cuts to climate and energy programs were less harsh than the President proposed, the admin continues to attack this funding. Congress must continue to step up and protect funds for climate action.

While the DHS bill is being debated, we're tracking important language included on FEMA: e.g., penalties if there are delays in processing reimbursement requests + a public dashboard tracking reimbursements requests. We'll keep a look out for these protections in the final bill.

Given the Trump admin's actions of delaying + cancelling funds, Congress added protections on appropriations for some programs, e.g. requiring 90% of LIHEAP grant funding must be awarded by Nov. 1 + for DOT to at least provide notice to Congress before terminating an existing award.

EV buyers may see fewer chargers if funds are cut by Congress Congress is considering legislation that would eliminate $879M appropriated for electric vehicle chargers. Here's what that means for drivers.

EPA’s budget was cut by over $300m from FY25. For DOT, unobligated funds for EV charger deployment + other IIJA programs have been transferred to the Highway Infrastructure Program, taking $ away from states building out their EV charging infrastructure: www.usatoday.com/story/cars/n...

What it means to cut the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations OCED has enjoyed bipartisan support, and fills a critical gap in the American technology ecosystem.

Major cuts to key DOE offices: Clean Energy Demonstrations zeroed out + $300M in cuts vs 2025 to Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). Significant funding from EERE + unobligated IIJA balances is being transferred to nuclear energy programs. www.latitudemedia.com/news/what-it...

Recently, Congress passed an approps package that funds all the govt, minus DHS. Overall FY26 funding is higher than the Trump admin proposed, but there were still significant cuts for climate and environmental programs. Here’s what we’re tracking:

Historical and projected combined ICE and CBP money. Tons of additional money from BBB.

Congressional Republicans gave Trump a slush fund for ICE and CBP in the "Big Beautiful Bill." Tens of billions of dollars that is still usable even during a shutdown.

Democrats must make rescinding that money the price of any future govt funding, as Republicans did with IRS money from the IRA.

In the wake of another horrific shooting death in MN by federal immigration officers -on top of wrongful detentions, violence, & fear there & across the country- it is appropriate for the Senate to use the budget process to push for critical protections for people & communities.

Trump Administration's Changes to Analyzing Costs Further Undermines Health and Safety January 12, 2026: Despite its core mission to protect human health and the environment, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) indicated that it would no longer take into account the health be...

The EPA indicated that it would no longer take into account the health benefits of reduced air pollution in its cost-benefit analyses for clean air regulations. @mtajo.bsky.social explains why this further undermines health and safety: www.cbpp.org/research/fed...

Energy prices + burden are rising across the US but are more severe for certain communities. In our new paper, @rachelijacobson.bsky.social + I discuss how state advocates can address energy affordability while advancing clean energy during 2026 legislative sessions: www.cbpp.org/research/cli... !

Trump Administration Actions Weakening Disaster Preparation and Response Climate change is causing storms, wildfires, droughts, and floods to become more frequent and severe, and these hazards are the leading contributor to rising disaster costs across the country. The...

Second, a blog post highlighting how the administration's threats and actions against FEMA are harming state budgets, increasing climate risk, and causing uncertainty: cbpp.org/blog/trump-a... (no cool map in this one, though--sorry)

TWO new pieces from me + @rachelijacobson.bsky.social
on pre- & post-disaster funding are out today! First is a paper on how states can use these funds for climate resilience, with an interactive map on disaster costs + a history of disaster funding programs: www.cbpp.org/research/cli...

Some states have already pushed the start of their LIHEAP programs because of the shutdown, meaning some families will be vulnerable to being disconnected from their utilities - learn more about what's happening and what you can do to help from my colleague @rachelijacobson.bsky.social

If the shutdown doesn’t end before nov 1, LIHEAP will be in trouble. States should increase shutoff protections.

Communities brace for fallout as DOE terminates nearly $7.6B in clean energy project funding Cuts to 223 projects across 16 states will mean job losses, higher energy costs and weaker grid reliability, experts and state agencies warn.

As pauses & cancellations continue, we need to remember that these cuts create real harm for real communities: economic instability and layoffs, higher energy costs, and more pollution:
www.smartcitiesdive.com/news/local-f...

Where did billions in climate and infrastructure funding go? Search our map by ZIP code. From clean energy projects to bridges, this interactive tool shows what projects lawmakers announced in your neighborhood.

Of the $8b cut, over 85% of DOE cuts are to projects in districts held by Democrats, despite over 60% of all IRA & IIJA grant awards covering single districts (vs. state/regional projects) going to Republican-held districts. grist.org/accountabili...

Trump Targets Democratic Districts by Halting Billions During Shutdown The Trump administration has frozen or canceled nearly $28 billion primarily located in Democratic-led districts, according to an analysis by The New York Times.

The Admin continues to pause + cancel climate & energy funding, mostly in Dem-held districts. Early in the shutdown, they cut ~$8b in DOE grants, incl. for improving grids, reducing emissions & supporting heat pump manufacturing. More cuts may be coming: www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

Elective Pay & IRA Tax Incentives — Lawyers for Good Government Elective Pay and IRA Tax Incentives Resources Page

Still, local and state govs, nonprofits & schools should consider leveraging the credits while they exist. Tons of great resources can be found from our partners at L4GG: www.lawyersforgoodgovernment.org/elective-pay...

Clean Energy Is Still the Cheapest Energy. States Must Deploy It, Fast. Republicans’ devastating megabill axed essential programs and put new restrictions on clean energy tax credits. But clean, affordable energy is exactly what we need right now to lower costs for famili...

Overall, the new rules may prevent clean energy projects from being built in time to claim the credits, meaning fewer clean energy projects at a time when electricity demand & costs continue to skyrocket. evergreenaction.com/blog/clean-e...

Navigating OBBBA: phaseouts, prohibited foreign entity rules, and other new rules This post builds on the briefs we published on June 20 (the House draft) and June 30 (the Senate draft) and describes the energy credit provisions as enacted in the final version of the recently-enact...

Most rooftop solar projects are below 1.5 MW and will still be able to use the 5% safe harbor, but developers will still have to navigate the new timelines and foreign entity restrictions. taxlawcenter.org/blog/navigating-obbba-phaseouts-prohibited-foreign-entity-rules-and-other-new-rules

The new rules block larger solar projects (>1.5 MW) and ALL wind projects from using the 5% safe harbor. They can use the significant work test, but this is a higher burden & could prevent projects from meeting the new beginning of construction deadline.

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The other test is more fact-intensive and requires “significant” physical work to be completed, excluding certain “preliminarily activities” like obtaining permits.

DocSend - Simple, intelligent, modern content sending DocSend helps you communicate more effectively by telling you what happens to content after you send them and letting you keep control in real time.

Under the old guidance, projects could satisfy 1 of 2 tests. Most projects used the "5% safe harbor,” which considers projects “started” if they have incurred at least 5% of the total project cost (e.g., purchasing solar panels). l4gg.docsend.com/view/wgc43st...

To qualify for credits, solar & wind projects must begin construction by 7/4/26 (or be placed in service by the end of 2027). Longstanding Treas. guidance has clarified what it means to begin construction, but the new rules will make it harder, specifically for wind/solar.

What the New Tax Credit Guidance Means for Clean Energy Projects The Trump administration has put up yet another roadblock to adding more low-cost wind and solar energy to the grid, forcing families to pay more for energy. States and utilities must take four key st...

Last month Treasury released new guidance that will further restrict which wind and solar projects can claim tax credits. What do these new rules mean? ⬇️⬇️ collaborative.evergreenaction.com/blog/what-th...

Reconciliation Bill Leaves Many Policy Gaps for States to Address This memo outlines the climate and energy impacts of the budget reconciliation law and provides recommendations on how states can step in and help fill the gaps.

The harmful Republican megabill slashes climate programs. @climatexchange and @evergreenaction share options for states to preserve progress: climate-xchange.org/2025/07/reco...

Here are some of my favorites below. 🧵

Here’s How Much Money Biden Actually Spent From the IRA When Congress rescinded unobligated funds from the historic climate law, it inadvertently answered a question climate advocates have been asking for months.

Since ~2/3 of IRA $ has been spent or contracted + can't legally (important word) be clawed back, its benefits will continue to be felt through funded projects. The Rs’ shortsighted cuts will limit this progress + increase energy burden + pollution. heatmap.news/politics/ira...

Navigating OBBBA: phaseouts, prohibited foreign entity rules, and other new rules This post builds on the briefs we published on June 20 (the House draft) and June 30 (the Senate draft) and describes the energy credit provisions as enacted in the final version of the recently-enact...

On top of these cuts, the law adds unworkable rules for tax credits for wind and solar + terminates credits for EVs + home energy efficiency almost immediately. These changes will lead to higher utility bills + job losses in areas facing underinvestment. taxlawcenter.org/blog/navigat...

Billions in environmental justice are also cut: $1.7b from the Neighborhood Access & Equity Program + $333m from the Environmental & Climate Justice program. Both critical for funding for transportation, pollution reduction, and clean energy in front line communities.

CBO also shows $193m in cuts to NOAA funding for restoring and protecting coastal communities, as well as for climate research and weather forecasting ...all at a time when climate change-fueled disasters are becoming more frequent and severe.