Policy

Climate United Fund vs. EPA vs. Citibank: A Timeline

Stay up-to-date on the coalition's lawsuit against the EPA and the bank. Read More

By Leah Garden May 29, 2025

Climate United is taking on both Citibank and the EPA to ensure it has access to its billions in federal funding. Source: Sophia Davirro

Key Takeaways:

The lawsuit is likely to set a precedent.
Although a judge has ruled that the EPA’s freezing of the funds was unlawful, the case continues to make its way through the federal court system.

In a bid to follow the Trump administration’s anti-climate agenda, EPA administrator Lee Zeldin attempted to unilaterally repeal congressionally approved funding from climate programs, including the National Climate Investment Fund (NCIF) and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF). In response, one of the recipient coalitions of the GGRF, Climate United Fund, sued the agency and Citibank — a.k.a. the financial institution that houses GGRF deposits — for freezing all funds.

The case is important because it is bound to set the tone for similar lawsuits, not to mention precedent when it is ultimately resolved. But it can be difficult to follow the ins-and-outs of weekly updates, which is why Trellis has decided to do it for you.

Oct. 12, 2023: Climate United announces the submission of a proposal to the EPA for participation in the GGRF.
April 4, 2024: The EPA announces that it has chosen three organizations to disseminate the GGRF, with Climate United receiving $6.97 billion. (Power Forward and the Coalition for Green Capital are the other two.)
Oct. 1, 2024: Climate United awards Scenic Hill Solar $31 million from its Electric Drayage Truck program.
Nov. 1, 2024: Citibank is chosen as the keeper of GGRF funds, as a result of the Financial Agent Agreements (FAA) between the bank, Dept. of Treasury and EPA.
Nov. 19, 2024: Climate United announces the launch of its $30 million NEXT program.
Feb. 12, 2025: Zeldin posts on social media that he and his team “found” $20 billion in mishandled taxpayer funds — a snarky reference to the $20 billion NCIF.
Feb. 13, 2025: In an EPA press release, Zeldin calls for a termination of the FAA.
Feb. 18, 2025: Climate United requests funds from Citibank; that doesn’t happen.
March 4, 2025: Zeldin announces that Climate United’s funds are officially frozen.
March 8, 2025: Climate United files a complaint against EPA and Citibank with the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia.
March 10, 2025: Climate United files a motion for a temporary restraining order against Zeldin, the EPA and Citibank.
March 11, 2025: The EPA sends Climate United a letter of termination, citing the agency’s obligation to “safeguard public funds.”
March 12, 2025: Climate United, the EPA and Citibank are heard in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
March 18, 2025: The U.S. District Court grants Climate United a temporary restraining order.
March 31, 2025: The U.S. District Court grants Climate United a seven-day extension on its restraining order.
April 15, 2025: Federal judge rules that the EPA unlawfully froze climate and infrastructure funds.
May 19, 2025: The three entities appear in the D.C. District Court of Appeals, with Climate United arguing that the agency should continue to be blocked from unilaterally canceling or rescinding the coalition’s funding.