EPA discovers $2 billion allocated to Abrams-linked nonprofit
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has uncovered that the Biden administration awarded a staggering $2 billion to Power Forward Communities, a climate-focused nonprofit with ties to former Georgia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams. Abrams, a vocal supporter of former President Joe Biden, has publicly expressed enthusiasm for her involvement with the group, according to a report by the Washington Free Beacon.
The funds, designated for Power Forward Communities, were held at Citibank—an external financial institution—before Biden left office. The allocation was part of a larger $20 billion fund created through the Inflation Reduction Act, which was intended for climate initiatives.
EPA chief raises concerns over funding process
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin voiced serious concerns over the grant, particularly due to Power Forward Communities’ limited financial history. “It’s extremely concerning that an organization that reported just $100 in revenue in 2023 was chosen to receive $2 billion,” Zeldin stated, referencing the nonprofit’s most recent tax filings. “That’s 20 million times the organization’s reported revenue.”
Zeldin also criticized the method used to allocate the funds, alleging that the previous administration “parked” the money outside the agency to prevent the incoming Trump administration from reclaiming it. “We suspected that some organizations were created out of thin air just to take advantage of this,” he said.
Concerns over lack of oversight
Last week, Zeldin announced that his agency had tracked down the full $20 billion that had been placed outside of direct EPA oversight. He expressed concerns that the funds were being distributed without adequate federal review and could potentially be funneled to politically aligned groups.
“I made a commitment to members of Congress and to the American people to be a good steward of tax dollars, and I’ve wasted no time in keeping my word,” Zeldin said. “As we continue to learn more about where some of this money went, it is even more apparent how far-reaching and widely accepted this waste and abuse has been.”
Abrams’ involvement and the timing of the grant
Abrams has been a staunch advocate for Biden’s green energy agenda and, in July 2024, penned an op-ed in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution urging Democrats to stand by the president despite growing calls for him to step aside from the race. “It’s time to stop the Joe Biden doom loop,” Abrams tweeted at the time.
The following month, Power Forward Communities was awarded the $2 billion grant. The organization stated that the funds would be used to support the “affordable decarbonization of homes and apartments throughout the country, with a particular focus on low-income and disadvantaged communities.”
Republican pushback and potential fund recovery
Zeldin has pledged to explore legal avenues to reclaim the funds from Citibank and prevent further disbursements. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he referred to Power Forward Communities as “a pass-through entity for Biden EPA’s $20 billion ‘gold bar’ scheme.”
