Zeldin EPA Uncovers $2B Abrams Climate Grant

THE NEWS

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under Administrator Lee Zeldin uncovered $2 billion in taxpayer funds awarded by the Biden administration to Power Forward Communities (PFC), a climate nonprofit linked to former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams.

The grant, part of a $20 billion program under the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), was discovered after the Biden administration parked the funds at Citibank to avoid federal oversight. PFC, founded in October 2023, reported just $100 in revenue before receiving the grant, raising concerns about favoritism and misuse of federal climate funds.

Zeldin, appointed by former President Donald Trump, revealed the discovery during a February 2025 investigation, calling it a “gold bar scheme” designed to funnel money to politically connected groups. The funds were part of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF), which distributed $20 billion to eight organizations, including PFC, in April 2024.

TIMELINE

October 2023: Power Forward Communities Founded

• Established as a coalition of left-leaning groups, including Abrams’ Rewiring America, where she serves as senior counsel. Abrams tweeted, “Thrilled to be part of @rewiringamerica… prioritizing housing, equity, and resilience.

April 2024: Biden EPA Awards Grant

• PFC receives $2 billion under the GGRF, one of eight grants totaling $20 billion. The funds were later moved to Citibank, bypassing federal oversight.

February 13, 2025: Zeldin Finds $20B Parked at Citibank

• Zeldin reveals the Biden administration stashed funds at an external bank, limiting transparency. Vows to recover the money.

February 19–20, 2025: Abrams’ Ties Exposed

• Reports confirm PFC’s $2 billion grant and Abrams’ involvement. Zeldin condemns the allocation, noting PFC’s $100 revenue made it “20 million times unqualified” for the grant.

REACTIONS:

Lee Zeldin (EPA Administrator): “This was a reckless scheme to funnel taxpayer money to politically connected groups. We’re recovering every penny”. Vowed to terminate Citibank’s financial agreement and refer the matter to the Inspector General and Justice Department.

Stacey Abrams: Publicly endorsed PFC in 2023 but did not comment on the grant scrutiny.

Daniel Turner (Power the Future): “Handing $2B to a $100-revenue group isn’t just nonsensical—it’s fraud".

Legal Experts: Warned the grant process violated federal ethics laws, citing conflicts of interest in Biden-era EPA officials’ ties to grant recipients.

House Republicans: Accused the Biden administration of creating a “slush fund” for allies, with GOP lawmakers planning hearings on alleged favoritism.

WHAT’S NEXT

Fund Recovery: Zeldin’s EPA aims to reclaim the $20 billion parked at Citibank, though legal hurdles may delay retrieval6.

Investigations: The EPA Office of the Inspector General and Congress will probe the grant selection process, focusing on PFC’s eligibility.