CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — An environmental legal group headquartered in Virginia has launched a lawsuit against the current administration for halting federal environmental funding that multiple cities and nonprofit organizations depend on. The Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC), which represents these groups, argues that the action to freeze these funds contradicts congressional directives.
The SELC’s litigation efforts include representation for a diverse group of stakeholders, ranging from environmental initiatives like the Alliance for Shenandoah and the Sustainability Institute to city governments such as Baltimore and Nashville. These entities have historically relied on federal support to manage and implement various environmental programs.
According to Kym Meyer, the Litigation Director at the SELC, this abrupt cessation of funds is already causing significant operational difficulties for these groups. Meyer highlighted the constitutional concerns raised by the executive’s decision to override congressional decisions on budget allocations, emphasizing the urgency of the situation for affected communities relying on these promised funds.
Meyer voiced the hardships faced by these organizations: without federal support, their ability to serve their communities and fulfill their environmental objectives is severely hindered. The SELC is planning to push for a preliminary injunction to temporarily halt the administration’s freeze, aiming to restore funding while the case is considered.
In response to the federal freeze, Meyer stated, “The interruption of these funds not only undermines the environmental efforts but also challenges the principles of governance where Congressional mandates are overridden without just cause.”
The SELC is expected to present their motion for a preliminary injunction later this week, a legal step that could determine how quickly affected parties might see a resolution to the fund freeze.
This lawsuit underscores a broader clash between federal oversight and local environmental management, exposing not just administrative disagreements but also the direct impacts on localities and organizations striving to meet environmental goals.
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