Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) criticized the Biden administration for awarding a $2 billion grant to a nonprofit tied to Democratic activist Stacey Abrams — calling it an outrageous misuse of taxpayer money. Speaking on the Senate floor, Kennedy detailed how the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) funneled billions to a newly formed coalition with no experience or track record.
The grant was part of the Inflation Reduction Act’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund — a program passed by Democrats with no Republican support. According to Kennedy, Abrams’ group, Rewiring America, played a key role in forming Power Forward Communities, a nonprofit that listed no previous accomplishments in its IRS filings and had only $100 in its bank account before receiving the massive payout.
Kennedy raised concerns over the rushed timeline of the grant, pointing out that Power Forward was given just 21 days to spend the money while being allowed 90 days to take a course on how to create a budget. “They were handed billions before they even knew how to manage it,” he said.
Abrams, who has twice lost races for Georgia governor, has built a national profile as a Democratic activist. Kennedy noted that she has made controversial statements in the past — including calling Georgia “the worst state in the country to live in” and claiming that a fetal heartbeat is a “manufactured sound.” He questioned whether her political ties influenced the decision to grant her organization such a large sum.
According to Kennedy, the money was meant to fund home energy upgrades — such as removing gas stoves and installing heat pumps — but there was little evidence the coalition had the ability to manage the funds effectively. He stressed that taxpayers have a right to know why the Biden administration prioritized Abrams’ group over more qualified applicants.
The grant’s approval has drawn scrutiny from House Republicans, who are now pushing for an investigation into how Power Forward was selected and whether the process was influenced by political favoritism.
