NW Kentucky News

House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Chairman James Comer and Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Energy Policy, and Regulatory Affairs Chairman Eric Burlison have initiated an investigation into the Biden Administration's environmental policies. They sent a letter to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin seeking a briefing on findings that suggest former EPA officials under the Biden Administration expedited billions in taxpayer funds to external groups with minimal oversight.

The lawmakers praised the Trump Administration's efforts at the EPA to combat waste, fraud, and abuse of taxpayer dollars. This includes recent actions taken by the agency to cancel grants and contracts related to environmental justice from the Biden era.

"The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is investigating the Biden Administration’s policies that led to higher energy costs and placed burdensome restrictions on consumer choice," stated Comer and Burlison. They emphasized their interest in evaluating "the regulatory costs, bad policies, and veiled special interests that defined the Biden Administration."

Comer and Burlison expressed concern over an arrangement between the Biden Administration's EPA, the U.S. Department of Treasury, and a financial institution designed to manage $20 billion for environmental groups with limited oversight. The lawmakers described this as "the first of its kind in EPA history" aimed at quickly obligating funds with reduced scrutiny.

They also highlighted potential conflicts of interest involving former Biden-era EPA officials who may have directed funds towards organizations they are now seeking employment with.

Further details can be found in their letter addressed to Administrator Zeldin.