Two Federal Courts Rule Trump Administration’s Elimination of Solar For All Program Unlawful, Advancing the Effort of Congressman Cleaver, Congresswoman Fletcher, Senator Whitehouse, Senator Sanders, and Senator Merkley to Save the Program

(Washington, D.C.) - Two federal courts have ruled that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) unlawfully eliminated the Inflation Reduction Act’s Solar for All Program. On September 22, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia granted summary judgement to Harris County, Texas. Congressman Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05), Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07), Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) supported Harris County’s case in an amicus brief they filed earlier this year, joined by 81 Members of Congress. The court vacated EPA’s decision to eliminate the program and warned that it will consider further relief if EPA fails to comply. 

On September 18, the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island also ruled against the EPA in a separate case brought by the Rhode Island AFL-CIO.

Solar for All was designed to lower electricity bills for low-income families, create thousands of well-paying jobs, boost American manufacturing, and make the grid more reliable.

“I am pleased that multiple courts have affirmed our belief that the power of the purse belongs to people’s representatives, and that no administration has the unilateral power to defund programs authorized by Congress, including the Solar For All program enacted in 2022,” said Congressman Cleaver. “While these decisions are a major victory for our communities, who will benefit from a $7 billion investment in renewable energy at a time when gas prices are skyrocketing, we must remain vigilant against an administration that continues to show contempt for the constitution and the separation of powers that our founders designed to protect against a would-be tyrant.”

“Solar for All is one of the most important affordable energy programs in our country’s history,” said Congresswoman Fletcher. “Congress created it. Congress appropriated the funds for it. No president or political appointee can unilaterally eliminate a program Congress has created, and two federal courts have now said so. I have been glad to support Harris County in this case and this effort to hold the Trump administration accountable and deliver for Harris County residents. EPA should comply with these rulings now and reinstate the grants it terminated. I will keep working to make sure Harris County families benefit from this investment in our community and to hold the administration accountable to the Congress and to the people we represent.”

“Trump’s EPA cancelled the wildly popular Solar for All program as part of its corrupt war on clean, affordable energy.  Rhode Island’s federal District Court and the D.C. District Court agreed: EPA had no authority to cancel the program, so low-cost solar energy will soon be back on its way to the American people.  I want to give a special thanks to Rhode Island AFL-CIO for their leadership in securing this victory,” said Senator Whitehouse, Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.

“Solar for All is critical to connecting families in Oregon and across the nation with the affordable, renewable energy of the future,” said Senator Jeff Merkley.  “The Trump Administration is pushing to rip away this funding from our communities, which has already been approved by Congress and signed into law, but two federal courts have rejected the Administration’s senseless effort.  Now, the EPA must swiftly follow suit and reinstate these federal funds.”

The Solar for All program is a $7 billion investment to help working families lower their electricity bills, strengthen local economies, and build a more resilient future. Missouri was awarded $156 million to deliver solar and battery storage to more than 18,000 low-income and working-class households throughout the state, while also creating good-paying jobs for Missouri workers. Families were set to save an average of approximately $400 per year in energy costs before the program’s termination in August 2025. 

Last year, Congressman Cleaver and Congresswoman Fletcher led their Democratic colleagues in an effort urging the Trump administration to reinstate the Solar for All program. In February, Congressman Cleaver, Congresswoman Fletcher, Senator Whitehouse, Senator Sanders, and Senator Merkley led their colleagues in filing an amicus brief in support of Harris County’s separate lawsuit to restore Solar for All. In March, Congressman Cleaver, Congresswoman Fletcher, Senator Whitehouse, Senator Sanders, and Senator Merkley continued this effort by leading 46 members of Congress in filing an amicus brief in support of 23 states’ separate lawsuit against the Trump administration for terminating the Inflation Reduction Act’s (IRA) Solar for All program (Arizona et al v. EPA), which remains pending on appeal.

Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Greenwood, Blue Springs, North Kansas City, Gladstone, and Claycomo. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance.