Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) took to the Senate floor to expose what he described as a shocking example of government waste—$2 billion in taxpayer money handed to a nonprofit connected to Democratic activist Stacey Abrams. The grant, issued under the EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, was awarded to a newly formed coalition that had no experience, no listed accomplishments, and barely any money in the bank before receiving the massive payout.
According to Kennedy, Power Forward Communities, a coalition that included Abrams’ group Rewiring America, was given one of the largest grants in the Inflation Reduction Act program, despite having no track record. IRS filings for the coalition showed that it reported only $100 in assets in 2023 and listed no achievements beyond applying for the grant itself.
Kennedy detailed how the Biden administration’s approval process seemed flawed, noting that the grant required Power Forward to allocate the funds within 21 days while allowing 90 days for the group to take a course on how to develop a budget. He argued that this made no sense and suggested it raised serious questions about how taxpayer money is being managed.
Abrams, who has run for Georgia governor twice and lost both times, has remained a high-profile Democratic figure. Kennedy pointed to several of her past statements, including calling Georgia the worst place to live and arguing that abortion helps alleviate economic concerns. He questioned whether her political status influenced the decision to grant her organization billions in federal funds.
The grant was intended to fund home energy efficiency projects, such as installing heat pumps and replacing gas stoves, but Kennedy suggested that more qualified groups were likely passed over in favor of a politically connected organization.
House Republicans are now demanding answers about why Abrams’ group received such a massive sum, with some pushing for an investigation into whether political favoritism played a role in the funding decision.
