Illustration: Gabriella Turrisi/Axios
The EPA has insulated much of its IRA spending from Republican repeal in reconciliation.
Why it matters: Billions have already gone out the door for greenhouse gas emissions reductions projects and environmental justice, shielding a chunk of President Biden's climate legacy behind a legal thicket.
Driving the news: EPA said in a report Monday that it has awarded $38.4 billion from the IRA — 93% of the grant money the agency was appropriated under the law.
- That includes all of the $27 billion Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, one of the GOP's most-despised IRA programs.
- The award agreements are "definite commitments that create a legal obligation for the government," Zealan Hoover, EPA's director of implementation, told reporters.
- "While there are some nuances across the terms and conditions for each program, all the major climate grants EPA has awarded can only be legally terminated for a failure to comply with the terms and conditions of their award agreement," he said.
Between the lines: New Senate EPW Chair Shelley Moore Capito acknowledged that she'll probably be able to pull back only "a fraction" of what she sees as "useless and wasteful" IRA spending at EPA.
- "We estimate that we're only going to be able to claw back around $8 billion if it doesn't get obligated by [the inauguration on Jan. 20]," she told Axios.
- Hoover said a big chunk of what's left is funding intended for management and oversight.
Yes, but: Capito is also targeting EPA's methane fee. Republicans are likely to have more success there, given intense oil and gas industry opposition.
