A national security organization has initiated a substantial advertising campaign, worth six figures, urging Congress to investigate a nonprofit that educates American judges on climate science, partly due to alleged connections to China.
On Tuesday morning, State Armor reiterated its call to five Republican committee leaders—two in the Senate and three in the House—via a letter obtained by the Daily Caller News Foundation. This letter, following an earlier one dispatched in June, claims that the Environmental Law Institute (ELI) is hindering the development of American data centers.
According to State Armor’s CEO, Michael Lucci, the ELI has, “positioned itself as a leading voice against the rapid development of data centers and the energy infrastructure necessary to power them.”
Lucci further noted that the institute has a lengthy history of collaboration with Chinese institutions and, “is working to impede American development in a strategically critical industry while China races ahead.”
The ELI did not provide a response to the DCNF’s inquiry for comment.
The letter substantiates its claims with links to the ELI’s website. One link directs to a webinar from July 2025 about water usage in data centers, co-hosted by the institute and others, featuring experts from Virginia Tech, WestWater Research, and Protect Our Aquifer. Another link references a recent comment in the Environmental Law Reporter—a journal published by ELI—titled, “A Call for a National Data Center Moratorium and Policy Framework.”
Bob Sussman, who served as deputy administrator of the EPA during Bill Clinton’s presidency, authored that comment. The journal’s articles page mentions welcoming external contributions to promote education and debate within the field.
Lucci remarked that, “ELI has allowed itself to be a middleman for Chinese influence here in America,” indicating that the organization’s actions effectively advance the Chinese Communist Party’s geopolitical objectives. He suggested that Congress needs to scrutinize ELI’s activities and relationships with China closely to assess the potential for legal action.
In response, the ELI states on its website that any accusations regarding the Climate Judiciary Project’s activities are “without merit,” affirming that it provides education without directing judges on their rulings. The institute’s curriculum is based on credible sources such as the National Climate Assessment, and each module undergoes peer review before publication.
The campaign includes various forms of advertising, such as a television ad in Washington, mobile billboards around Capitol Hill and the ELI headquarters, along with targeted online advertising, according to State Armor.
China stands to gain when lawmakers become skittish about building modern data centers needed to keep us ahead in the AI race. @AGToddBlanche is absolutely right.
China wants us to slow down. Lawmakers should keep that in mind when considering policies that could do just that. https://t.co/fI3O6elN1t
— State Armor (@StateArmor) September 15, 2026
Lucci’s letter was addressed to several Republican officials, including Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley and Ohio Representative Jim Jordan, among others. The communication requests an investigation into the ELI’s funding, connections to Chinese entities, information-sharing practices, and educational programs for judges. Lucci claims the organization could be a significant, yet overlooked, channel for Chinese influence in American legal and policy realms.
A report published by State Armor in July alleges that the ELI has collaborated with Chinese government bodies, universities, and legal groups for decades while advocating for policies in the U.S. that limit domestic energy output. The report mentions that the Climate Judiciary Project has trained over 2,000 judges in America.
Since 1990, the ELI has provided training on environmental law to more than 3,000 judges across 28 countries, having established the Climate Judiciary Project in 2018.
Republican Senator Tom Cotton expressed on Facebook that judges associated with the Chinese Communist Party should not be part of the U.S. judiciary. Furthermore, Moolenaar, who leads the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, advised judges to thoroughly vet any programs they engage with, especially those linked to CCP-affiliated organizations.
Chad Mizelle, a former chief of staff and acting associate attorney general at the Justice Department, criticized the situation, saying, “That a firm can sit on ELI’s board and brief CCP-adjacent groups while defending energy companies in dozens of climate suits is exactly the kind of conflict that should outrage clients and federal officials alike.”
The Supreme Court is set to hear Suncor Energy v. County Commissioners of Boulder County on October 5, where the decision will determine the legality of local governments pursuing climate damage claims against energy firms under state law.
According to ELI, “We are educating judges worldwide on vital issues in environmental law, both domestically and internationally, and helping Gulf Coast communities influence restoration and recovery efforts.” The organization also emphasizes educating many environmental professionals annually in the U.S., believing that more skilled professionals lead to improved environmental outcomes.
Ultimately, their goal is to enhance the implementation of environmental and natural resource laws globally.
