A US federal appeals court has found that the Environmental Protection Agency likely acted unlawfully in seeking to cancel clean energy grants awarded under the Biden administration, dealing a setback to the Trump administration's effort to scrap the programme.
Key facts
- A US federal appeals court ruled the EPA likely acted unlawfully.
- The case concerns an attempt to cancel Biden-era clean energy grants.
- The ruling is a blow to the Trump administration's bid to scrap the programme.
- The decision was reported by Al Jazeera on 4 August 2026.
A US federal appeals court has said the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) likely acted unlawfully in trying to cancel clean energy grants that were awarded under the Biden administration, according to Al Jazeera.
The ruling represents a setback for the Trump administration, which had sought to scrap the climate grant programme as part of its broader agenda. The court’s assessment that the EPA’s actions were likely unlawful casts doubt on the effort to unwind the grants.
The grants at the centre of the dispute date from the previous administration under President Joe Biden, and were directed toward clean energy initiatives. The Trump administration’s move to cancel them prompted the legal challenge that reached the appeals court.
Al Jazeera reported the decision on 4 August 2026, describing it as a blow to President Trump’s bid to eliminate the programme.
The court’s finding that the EPA likely acted unlawfully suggests the agency faces significant legal obstacles if it continues to pursue cancellation of the grants.
Why it matters
The ruling affects the future of federal clean energy funding and signals that efforts to reverse Biden-era climate policies may face legal hurdles. For communities and organisations relying on the grants, the decision could determine whether that funding continues.
Frequently asked questions
What did the court decide?
According to Al Jazeera, a US federal appeals court said the EPA likely acted unlawfully in trying to cancel Biden-era clean energy grants.
Which grants are affected?
The dispute concerns clean energy grants that were awarded under the Biden administration, which the Trump administration sought to cancel.
When was the ruling reported?
Al Jazeera reported the decision on 4 August 2026.