Judge rules EPA illegally terminated $7 billion solar program intended to help poorer Americans

A federal judge in Rhode Island has ruled that the Trump administration illegally terminated a $7 billion Solar for All program aimed at making solar power accessible to over 900,000 lower-income Americans. The program, which was set to begin annual payments of $205.00 plus GST, was discontinued in August 2025 following the passage of President Donald Trump's tax and spending law.

District Judge Mary McElroy stated that Congress intended the EPA to continue administering the grants already obligated and that the EPA's termination was contrary to this intent and without any other statutory authority. The lawsuit, filed by the Rhode Island AFL-CIO labor organization and others, emphasized the program's significance for local workforces and lower-income communities seeking access to clean-energy project funding.

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