March 8 (Reuters) - An environmental nonprofit sued the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Citibank on Saturday,
seeking billions of dollars for solar and other projects frozen
by the bank as the Trump administration slashes federal
spending.
Climate United Fund alleges that in freezing the grant
money, approved by Joe Biden's administration, the "EPA has
acted to prevent Citibank from dispersing funds, harming Climate
United, its borrowers, and the communities they serve."
It is the latest in a scores of cases filed by nonprofit
groups, state attorneys general and others fighting moves by
President Donald Trump, a Republican, to roll back Democrat
Biden's policies as he seeks to shrink the federal bureaucracy
and spending and broadly reshape U.S. immigration, foreign and
social policies.
Judges have stalled Trump's efforts in a number of cases,
but he has had some legal victories.
Spokespeople for Washington-based Climate United, Citibank
and the EPA did not immediately respond to requests for comment
on the suit, filed in federal court in the capital.
Climate United says in its court filing that it was selected
for the EPA's National Clean Investment Fund program last April
and planned to lend to developers nationwide to support solar
power, electric trucks and energy efficient housing.
"This program was designed to save money for hard-working
Americans who are struggling to pay for groceries and keep the
lights on," the group said in a statement. "We're going to court
for the communities we serve - not because we want to, but
because we have to."
Climate United alleges it is owed about $7 billion, part of
$20 billion that has been swept up in a controversy with EPA
Administrator Lee Zeldin, who said the funding approval by the
"self-dealing" Biden administration amounted to "intentionally
tossing 'gold bars off the Titanic'" before he left office.
Last month, Trump administration officials instructed
federal prosecutor Denise Cheung to start a criminal probe of
the funding. She resigned rather than complying, saying she
believed the request was not supported by evidence.