WASHINGTON — Judge Tanya S. Chutkan of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia issued a temporary restraining order Tuesday, blocking the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Citibank from clawing back billions in climate grants that were committed for Tribal energy projects and other clean energy initiatives in marginalized communities.Â
The decision halts the agency’s attempt to revoke funding from three nonprofit organizations—Climate United Fund, Coalition for Green Capital, and Power Forward Communities—all aimed at advancing clean energy initiatives.
Judge Chutkan’s background
Judge Tanya S. Chutkan, born in Kingston, Jamaica, was appointed by President Obama in 2014 to the U.S. District Court for D.C.
She gained national attention for her tougher sentences on cases in the January 6 trials than requested by the Justice Department and for denying Trump’s 2021 attempt to block White House records from the Capitol attack investigation.
Her rulings span government transparency, reproductive rights, and corporate accountability. In Garza v. Hargan (2017), she upheld a detained teen’s right to abortion.
Most recently, in 2025, she declined to block Elon Musk’s DOGE agency but raised concerns about its unchecked authority.
Why the EPA tried to cancel the grants
Under the watch of Administrator Lee Zeldin, the EPA sought to eliminate $20 billion in clean and Tribal energy grants because of worries about fraud and lack of oversight, according to a video Zeldin posted last week.
These grants, part of Biden’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund and distributed through the Inflation Reduction Act, financed clean and renewable energy projects in marginalized communities and on Tribal lands, like Solar for All.Â
In response to lawsuits from nonprofits like the Climate United Fund and the Coalition for Green Capital, Judge Chutkan issued a temporary restraining order, allowing the grants to continue.
The case highlights continued tensions between Trump-era policies and clean energy efforts, potentially impacting federally funded climate programs for marginalized communities.
Impact of the ruling
Chutkan’s decision ensures that billions in funding remain available for clean energy initiatives designed to reduce emissions, lower energy costs, and support economic development in marginalized communities.
Programs like Solar for All, which aims to expand renewable energy access for low-income households and Tribal nations, would have been among the hardest hit by the EPA’s attempt to claw back funds.
What comes next for EPA and climate groups?
While Judge Chutkan’s restraining order temporarily blocks the EPA’s move, the legal battle is far from over. The Biden administration and environmental groups will likely push for a permanent injunction to secure the funding’s future. Meanwhile, the EPA, under Zeldin, may appeal the ruling, setting the stage for a broader legal fight over the agency’s authority and climate policy direction.
As federal climate initiatives remain a battleground, Judge Chutkan’s ruling signals that courts may continue to play a crucial role in protecting clean energy funding—especially for the communities that need it most.
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