The U.S. Department of Energy admitted in court filings that its October 2025 cancellation of $7.5 billion in clean energy grants was based solely on political criteria, targeting states that voted for Kamala Harris in the 2024 election. A DOE lawyer confirmed that 284 terminated grants were in states with Democratic-caucusing senators, with no programmatic or performance factors considered, while similar grants in Republican-led states were left untouched. The admission contradicts earlier denials by Energy Secretary Chris Wright.
- The DOE admitted in a lawsuit filed by California researchers that the cancellation of $7.5 billion in clean energy grants was based solely on 2024 voting patterns, not program performance.
- All 284 terminated grants were in states with Democratic-caucusing senators, while similar grants in Republican-led states were left untouched.
- The court admission contradicts Energy Secretary Chris Wright's earlier denials that political factors played a role in the grant cancellations.