Josh Shapiro announced Monday that over $2 billion in federal aid—previously frozen by the Trump administration—is now accessible, reports Marc Levy for The Reporter.
The Abington native had sued in federal court earlier this month, challenging the funding pause as illegal and unconstitutional.
The withheld aid, tied to key infrastructure and environmental projects, included funding from President Biden’s 2021 infrastructure law and the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. Shapiro emphasized that the freeze had blocked programs for energy efficiency, mine cleanup, municipal water systems, and emissions reduction.
Despite Trump administration lawyers arguing that the hold was merely a temporary “pause,” courts repeatedly rejected the delay. Shapiro also pressed his case with senior officials in Washington, D.C., over the weekend.
Five federal agencies, including the White House Office of Management and Budget, were named in the lawsuit. While the Department of Energy claimed compliance with court orders, it remained unclear whether all withheld funds had been released.
Shapiro’s persistence resulted in the unfreezing of funds, ensuring critical projects move forward.
Read more about the federal aid in The Reporter.
