Environmental Defense Fund: Court rules Trump administration energy project cuts were illegal

In November 2025, the Department of Energy canceled $7.5 billion in grants, terminating more than 300 financial awards covering hundreds of projects, including new wind and solar development as well as critical grid upgrades and efficiency programs expected to save money for consumers. Notably, the cancellations were in states that did not vote for President Trump in the 2024 election. “The administration’s cancellations were targeted at projects that happen to be in disfavored states and have nothing at all to do with the vital benefits of these projects in expanding clean affordable energy,” said Vickie Patton, general counsel for EDF. On November 10, a coalition including EDF, sued the Trump administration for canceling the grants. On January 12, the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia ruled the administration violated the Constitution’s equal protection requirements when it cancelled millions of dollars in federal grants based on the states in which the grantees were located. More DETAILS.