Reps. Deluzio & Lee Push Back on Trump Administration’s Termination of Federal Grants & Contracts to Western PA Organizations

CARNEGIE, PA — Today, U.S. Representatives Chris Deluzio (PA-17) and Summer L. Lee (PA-12) sent letters to the Trump Administration expressing serious concern about illegally-terminated grants and contracts with beloved cultural institutions and local organizations working to clean our air and water. Recently, DOGE has cut Congressionally-authorized funding to the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, and Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens through the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), and funding to organizations like New Sun Rising, Beaver County Marcellus Awareness Community, 412 Food Rescue, Riverwise, and others through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). These illegal funding clawbacks hurt the entire region, prompting Representatives Deluzio and Lee to push back in a unified front against DOGE’s dismantling of key programs in joint letters to the leadership of IMLS and EPA asking that the funds be restored.   

“In Western Pennsylvania, promises mean something. And when the federal government breaks a promise, it hurts all of us,” said Congressman Chris Deluzio. “It’s outrageous that DOGE is plundering our government, illegally ripping away funding that we in Congress authorized to enrich our region’s culture, clean our air and water, strengthen our workforce, and create opportunities for folks to learn about and enjoy the outdoors. When these local organizations came to my office and told us what was happening, we jumped into action. We won’t stop fighting for Western PA.”  

"Over the past few months, DOGE has made illegal, dangerous, and reckless cuts to Congressionally authorized funding and programs in Western Pennsylvania and across the country. These investments aren’t wasteful — they keep our communities healthy, our workforce strong, and our communities vibrant,” said Congresswoman Summer Lee. "I am committed to holding this administration accountable and pushing back against the harm they continue to instill in our neighborhoods. Our people deserve better." 

Congressman Deluzio was successful in his recent effort to get IMLS to reinstate funding for restoring the beloved Maxo Vanko murals. The lawmakers hope their joint advocacy for the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, and Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens will yield similar success.  

Separately, DOGE has made significant cuts to EPA’s Thriving Community Grantmaking Program, which is designed to distribute funding from the Inflation Reduction Act’s Environmental and Climate Justice Program to community-based nonprofits, local governments, institutions of higher education, and Native American organizations working to address environmental issues. Recently, EPA clawed back over $6.4 million from the Green and Healthy Homes Initiative (GHHI), a national organization that—based on federal commitments—was making sub-grants to Western Pennsylvania organizations New Sun Rising, Beaver County Marcellus Awareness Community, 412 Food Rescue, and Riverwise. Now, their local initiatives are in jeopardy, hurting efforts to improve air and water quality, develop our workforce, and strengthen outdoor educational programming for all Western Pennsylvanians.

Representatives Deluzio and Lee will continue to closely monitor developments and demand that this Administration follow the law and allow Congressionally-authorized funding to flow back to Western Pennsylvania, for the benefit of the entire region. 

###