Why Trump Wants to Kill Green Energy

Politics, profits, and power behind his attack on clean energy

On day one of the Republican-led shutdown, Donald Trump’s administration announced that it would cancel nearly $8 billion in green energy projects across 16 Democratic states. These include California, New York, Illinois, Washington, and Massachusetts. On top of that, Trump has frozen 18 billion dollars in infrastructure and transportation funding for New York City, claiming those projects relied on “unconstitutional DEI principles.”

This is not a neutral budget move. It is targeted. All 16 states voted against Trump in 2024, and each is represented by two Democratic senators. These are also the senators holding the line in the shutdown fight. The message is clear: if you oppose Trump, your state loses federal money.