During a Senate hearing on Wednesday, a debate unfolded between Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin regarding the cancellation of agency grants.
The White House probed Zeldin about whether the EPA had performed a distinct review of grants that were axed amidst broader budget cuts initiated by President Trump.
Democrats from Rhode Island argued that the testimony from EPA officials, coupled with statements made by government lawyers in court, contradicted the administration’s assertions about the review process being thorough.
Specifically, he highlighted a court document from Travis Voyles of the EPA, indicating that they had conducted an individual review of the EPA grant program on February 25, 2025. Zeldin himself confirmed that he led this review.
Furthermore, the White House stated, “On May 16, DOJ’s career lawyers filed a lawsuit in federal court, recognizing they had not conducted a separate review of grants.”
“Your claim today is undermined by your own employee’s sworn court statement and the Department of Justice’s acknowledgment that what you’re stating is untrue,” the White House responded to Zeldin.
Zeldin countered, saying, “You clearly don’t grasp that we have multiple employees reviewing these grants. That seems to elude you.”
Following the heated exchange, Zeldin remarked, “I won’t waste taxpayer dollars simply on the EPA’s lighting costs.”
“American taxpayers supported President Trump for people like you, and they elected Republicans to lead the House and Senate for people like you.”
In retaliation, the White House urged Zeldin to “clarify why the attorney representing the EPA in court, under oath, said everything you’ve claimed is false.”
This discussion arises as the agency has sought to cancel hundreds of grants to reduce government spending, notably targeting environmental programs in the process.
