On February 24, Gov. Josh Shapiro announced “every dollar” of the $2.1 billion in federal funds identified in a February 13 lawsuit against the federal government are no longer frozen.

The federal funding included money for reclaiming abandoned mine land, capping and plugging orphan wells, water infrastructure funding, the Solar for All Program, programs to lower greenhouse gas emissions, industrial decarbonization and improve energy efficiency.

[Editor's Note: This does not mean the risk to federal funding has ended to dozens of other federal programs that support state and local programs, projects and services.  It only refers to the funds included in the lawsuit.]

Gov. Shapiro said in announcing the lawsuit--  “The federal government has entered into a contract with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, promising to provide billions of dollars in Congressionally-approved funding that we have committed to serious needs – like protecting public health, cutting energy costs, providing safe, clean drinking water, and creating jobs in rural communities.

“With this funding freeze, the Trump Administration is breaking that contract – and it’s my job as Governor to protect Pennsylvania’s interests.

"Over the past two weeks, my team and I have engaged with our Congressional delegation to try to restore access to all the federal funding Pennsylvania has been promised under law – but despite those efforts, state agencies remain unable to draw down these critical dollars.

"While multiple federal judges have ordered the Trump Administration to unfreeze this funding, access has not been restored, leaving my Administration with no choice but to pursue legal action to protect the interests of the Commonwealth and its residents.”

The U.S. Constitution clearly states that federal agencies do not have the power to suspend states’ access to money that Congress appropriated or to impose new conditions on money already appropriated and obligated.

Click Here for a copy of the original lawsuit.

Click Here for video of the announcement [when posted].

Resource Links:

-- Gov. Shapiro Files Lawsuit Challenging President's Unconstitutional Federal Funding Freeze In Order to Protect PA Interests; Mine Reclamation, Conventional Well Plugging, Many Other Funds At Risk  [PaEN]

-- Gov. Shapiro’s Budget Includes Energy Plan; Funding To Make-up Deficit In Oil & Gas Program; New State Park, Trail Initiative; Over $6.2 Billion In Federal Funding At Risk For DEP, DCNR, PennVEST  [PaEN]

Related Article:

-- Gov. Shapiro Announced  Federal Funds Identified In State Lawsuit Are No Longer Frozen - Mine Reclamation, Conventional Well Plugging, Water Infrastructure  [PaEN] 

-- Chesapeake Bay Foundation: President's Proposed 65% Cut In EPA Budget, Coming Mass Layoffs Spell Disaster For Chesapeake Bay [PaEN]

NewsClips:

-- Reuters: EPA Administrator Planning To Cut 65% Of Agency’s Workforce

-- Politico.com: White House Now Says President Meant He Will Cut 65% Of EPA’s Budget, Not Staff

-- The Hill: NOAA Beings Firing More Than 10% Of Its Employees [Weather Service, Sea Grant]

-- Bloomberg: Federal Pipeline Safety Agency’s Senior Leaders Exit Amid Presidential Push [PHMSA]

-- AP: President Sets Stage For Large-Scale Federal Worker Layoffs In New Memo Covering Career Officials With Civil Service Protection

-- AP: Federal Judge Finds Mass Firing Of Federal Probationary Workers Were Likely Unlawful

-- PA Capital-Star: Uncertainty Remains For Programs In PA Impacted By Federal Funding Freeze, Despite Reversal

-- Inside Climate News - Jon Hurdle: $2.1 Billion In Federal Funding Restored In PA After State’s Lawsuit, But Other Funding For State-Administered Programs May Be At Risk 

-- WESA: Amid Frozen Forestry Funds, Pittsburgh’s Faith Leaders Called To Become Environmental Shepherds

-- PASA Sustainable Agriculture: Taking Action On Federal Funding Freeze

-- National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition: Tell Your Members Of Congress To Unfreeze Agriculture Funds Now

-- The Hill: NOAA Beings Firing More Than 10% Of Its Employees [Weather Service, Sea Grant]

-- Inquirer: President Freezes National Park Money For Valley Forge Forest Management  

-- WESA: How Federal Layoffs Are Impacting Pittsburgh Workers: ‘No Rhyme Or Reason’

-- Warren Times: USDA Confirms Layoffs Coming To Allegheny National Forest

-- Observer-Reporter: Former National Park Employees Weigh In On Firings

-- PennLive Guest Essay: If You Care About National Parks, Forests, Tell Congress To Stop President’s Cuts Now - By Douglas Austen, Fmr Fish & Boat Commission Executive Director

-- Warren Times Editorial: Not A Big Fan Of Celebrating President’s Cuts: People Receiving Pink Slips In Our Region Work Each Day To Earn A Paycheck To Support Their Families, It’s Just Adding To The Unemployment Rolls

[Posted: February 24, 2025]

3/3/2025