Vice President Kamala Harris is facing criticism for her support of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the organizations chosen by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to receive grants under the law. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works ranking member Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., has been investigating the groups receiving money from the IRA. She shared her findings with reporters on Wednesday, highlighting that Harris promoted the IRA’s work to boost “equity” by providing grants through the EPA to various left-wing groups.
Senator Capito claims that these groups have little to do with the environment and are primarily engaged in activities she considers anti-American. She cites their anti-American, antisemitic, anti-Israel, anti-police, and anti-border security stances. Among the groups she highlighted are the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, the Climate Justice Alliance (CJA), the NDN collective, the New York Immigration Coalition, and the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice.
CJA, which is set to receive a $50 million grant from the EPA, has been accused of glorifying Hamas and denying Israel’s right to exist. The group has hosted events framing the “free Palestine” movement as a “climate justice issue” and promoted artwork symbolizing the October 7 terrorist attack on Israeli citizens by Hamas. One image, promoted for use at protests, showed a bulldozer taking down a section of the Israel-Gaza border fence during the attack, with the words “Decolonize Palestine” written above it.
The Ella Baker Center has repeatedly promoted its support for defunding the police, especially through posts on X. The NDN Collective has stated, “We do support defunding the police and U.S. military which continue terrorizing Indigenous, Black, LGBTQIA2S+ and poor people across the planet, because we have seen firsthand the destruction caused by state violence and control.” They also refer to the U.S. as “so-called” and any locations within the country. The New York Immigration Coalition and the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice have both expressed support for abolishing ICE or preventing the agency from operating within their states.
When groups selected for EPA grants were announced in December 2023, Harris emphasized the administration’s commitment to equity in environmental investments. She stated, “President Joe Biden and I have put equity at the center of our nation’s largest investment in climate in history.”
Senator Capito alleges that a coalition called the Green New Deal Network, linked to CJA and other youth climate groups, is planning to endorse Harris for president. She suggests that the EPA is rushing to grant money to these groups out of fear of a potential Trump administration return. She believes the administration is trying to secure these grants quickly before a potential change in leadership.
An EPA spokesperson responded to these concerns, stating that the grants are awarded through an independent EPA process, following rigorous competition policies. They emphasized that EPA condemns violence, hate, and discrimination and considers any such comments unacceptable. They also expressed confidence in the agency’s strong oversight of all programs and robust controls ensuring grant recipients manage funds according to law and federal requirements.
Harris’ office responded by pointing to a recent statement where she condemned Hamas, stating, “I condemn any individuals associating with the brutal terrorist organization Hamas, which has vowed to annihilate the State of Israel and kill Jews.”
While none of the highlighted groups selected for EPA grants have responded to requests for comment, the controversy surrounding these grants continues to draw attention to the political leanings of the organizations receiving federal funding.
