"Republicans’ ‘Clearly Unprecedented’ Gambit To Kill Climate Programs"

"The House Energy and Commerce Committee wants to use the budget process to repeal program authorizations. That may not fly in the Senate."

"House Republicans want to use their sprawling budget reconciliation bill not only to zero out climate programs — but also to make it harder for subsequent Congresses to restore them.

The budget bill the House Energy and Commerce Committee released Sunday night would pull back about $6.5 billion in unspent grant funding for green energy finance, clean manufacturing, community pollution abatement and carbon-cutting projects at ports and schools.

It would also repeal the authorizing language for the 17 programs that it targets.

Bill Hoagland, who served as director of budget and appropriations for former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.), called that move “clearly unprecedented.”

“I have never seen in my career any reconciliation language that would strike authorization language for a discretionary program,” he said."

Jean Chemnick reports for E&E News May 13, 2025.

 

Source: E&E News, 05/15/2025