The Climate Justice Alliance (CJA), a coalition of grassroots environmental groups, is at risk of losing $60 million in federal funding after publicly opposing the Israel-Hamas war. The group, which was named one of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) "grantmakers" over a year ago, has yet to receive any funding, sparking concerns about the impact on local environmental projects.

The EPA's Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program, which was established under the Inflation Reduction Act, set aside $600 million for locally led environmental projects. The CJA was chosen to distribute subgrants to EPA regions 8-10, which encompass most of the Western US, and is also the national grantmaker responsible for outreach to tribal communities. However, despite being selected as one of the 11 grantmakers, the CJA has yet to receive any funding, with some EPA staffers suggesting that the group has been singled out as a result of its stance on the Israel-Hamas war.

The CJA has faced a barrage of attacks from conservative media and Republican lawmakers, who have accused the group of being "radicals," antisemitic, and "anti-American" for its stance on the conflict. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) has been particularly vocal in her criticism, citing the group's "free Palestine" section on its website and accusing it of publishing "antisemitic and alarming images."

However, the CJA has maintained that its stance is rooted in its commitment to peace and its support for the Palestinian people's right to self-determination. "At our core, CJA has always been anti-war and pro-communities," said KD Chavez, the group's executive director. "We are just collateral damage in a war against regulations."

The delay in funding has sparked concerns about the impact on local environmental projects, which are crucial for safeguarding Americans' air, water, and climate. With a deregulatory agenda at the national level, local efforts become even more crucial, and the EPA's grantmakers are supposed to support these initiatives. "What this would do is further strip away funds that our communities have been counting on," Chavez said. "We need people to be resourced so that at least on a local level they can do clean-up projects, they can have air quality monitoring."

The CJA has already spent $1.6 million from its own operational budget to get the organizational infrastructure in place needed to allow community groups to apply for subgrants. The group is supposed to receive $50 million for those subgrants, plus an additional $10 million for technical capacity. However, with President-elect Donald Trump set to take office, there are concerns that the funding may disappear if it isn't dispersed before he steps into office.

Trump has said he would rescind unspent funds from the Inflation Reduction Act, which set aside money for the grants. And if his second term is anything like his first, he's likely to gut the EPA and roll back environmental protections. As a result, the CJA is urging the EPA to disburse the funds before it's too late, citing the need for local efforts to safeguard Americans' air, water, and climate.

In an open letter in December, a group of anonymous EPA and Department of Energy employees wrote, "We have been deeply disappointed to witness EPA's current withholding of $60 million to the Climate Justice Alliance (CJA), the only one of the eleven grantees that courageously spoke out against the environmental toll and human rights violations in Palestine." The letter urged the agencies to "end their collaboration with Israel until there is a permanent ceasefire" and "release all designated federal funds to Climate Justice Alliance."

The EPA has refused to verify the CJA's claims or answer specific questions about an investigation into the group. In an email to The Verge, EPA spokesperson Nick Conger said, "EPA continues to review the grant for the Climate Justice Alliance. EPA continues to work through its rigorous process to obligate the funds under the Inflation Reduction Act, including the Thriving Communities Grantmakers program." The agency is "on track" to award more than 90 percent of the funding by the end of the Biden administration, Conger added.

As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen whether the CJA will receive the funding it needs to support local environmental projects. However, one thing is clear: the stakes are high, and the impact of this decision will be felt far beyond the confines of the EPA's headquarters.