U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced on Monday the cancellation of 400 environmental justice and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) grants totaling $1.7 billion. This move marks the latest phase of the Trump administration’s crackdown on DEI initiatives.
Zeldin stated that the funds were redirected away from projects that he argued did not align with the agency’s core environmental goals. The decision has sparked debate, with critics arguing that it undermines efforts to address systemic inequities, while supporters contend that it reasserts the focus on environmental priorities.
