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ALBANY, NY — Congressman Paul D. Tonko (NY-20) blasted President Trump and this administration for illegally terminating $7.56 billion in protects aimed at driving energy independence, creating jobs, and strengthening domestic manufacturing. 

The Department of Energy terminated 321 financial awards, all but a handful of which are located across 16 states that supported Vice President Harris in the 2024 Presidential election. The cuts include 26 awards, totaling $179,834,935, that would be carried out in whole or in part in the Capital Region.

The illegally terminated projects were previously appropriated by Congress in a bipartisan manner and were competitively selected. These projects were canceled despite the fact that DOE remains open and operational using unexpired financial resources in a government shutdown.

“Instead of sitting down with Democrats to talk about preserving affordable health care, Donald Trump has shut down the government, used the jobs and livelihoods of thousands of federal workers as collateral, and has now unilaterally canceled nearly $180 million in funding for dozens of projects in the Capital Region and hundreds more across the country — all in Democratic-led states,” Congressman Tonko said. “Let’s be clear — these aren’t Democratic or Republican projects, these are cutting-edge contracts working to drive innovation and bring energy costs down for everyone. Donald Trump cares more about his own power than making life affordable for the American people.

“Threatening retribution for your political opponents is the behavior of dictators, not Presidents. This is exactly the type of lawless behavior that Democrats are fighting to rein in.

“I was always taught to stand up to bullies, and that’s what I plan to do.”

The full list of projects canceled in the Capital Region and across the nation can be viewed HERE.