Trump Administration Yanks Billions in Funding for Cutting-Edge Clean Energy Projects

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (October 2, 2025)-The Department of Energy announced the termination of financial awards for 223 projects, totaling more than $7.5 billion, that were driving innovation on the frontiers of numerous areas of the clean energy transition including energy generation, grid infrastructure and advanced manufacturing. These cancellations will cost jobs, raise energy prices and undermine U.S. leadership on the development of cutting-edge technologies. Notably, in announcing these award terminations, Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought explicitly named the political motivations underlying the administration's award cancellations.

Below is a statement by Julie McNamara, associate policy director for the Climate and Energy Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS).

"Canceling funds for projects advancing the build out of a clean, efficient, more accessible and more affordable energy system is wildly ill-conceived. These cuts will increase costs, undermine grid reliability and deepen the nation's overreliance on fossil fuels. By slashing support for research and innovation at the frontiers of advanced manufacturing and clean technologies, the administration is hamstringing the nation's capacity to lead on the technologies, processes and jobs of the future.

"And for what? The Trump administration has been explicit that these cancellations have nothing to do with acting in the best interests of this country and everything to do with satisfying political vindictiveness. Policymakers simply cannot allow such nakedly political actions to stand. For immediate impact and for risk of precedent, these cancellations demand investigation and accountability."