Judge: Trump Violated Constitution by Canceling Energy Grants
In a recent ruling, a federal judge determined the Trump administration’s cancellation of approximately $8 billion in energy grants violated the Constitution by disproportionately affecting recipients in Democratic-leaning states. U.S. District Judge Amit P. Mehta found the Department of Energy’s grant terminations unlawful under the Fifth Amendment’s equal protection guarantee, specifically highlighting the targeting of blue-state-based projects. The ruling mandates the restoration of seven specific grants, emphasizing that the selection process was primarily based on the grant recipient’s state’s political identity. This decision establishes constitutional limits on executive branch actions that discriminate based on state political affiliation.
John Q. Hosedrinker