Fact-checking Trump's claim that a group ‘headed up' by Stacey Abrams received $2 billion
During his Tuesday night address to Congress, President Donald Trump called out Stacey Abrams, saying the two-time Democratic candidate for Georgia governor "headed up" a group that was an example of wasteful government spending.
Trump listed several federal spending items he characterized as examples of "appalling waste." Among them, he said, was "$1.9 billion (that went) to (a) recently created decarbonization of homes committee, headed up — and we know she's involved, just at the last minute the money was passed over — by a woman named Stacey Abrams. Have you ever heard of her?"
Some people in the crowd booed.
The White House did not respond to our request for comment. But Trump appeared to be referencing a grant at the center of a related viral talking point involving Abrams that we recently rated False.
Abrams, an attorney, is a voting rights activist. From March 2023 through the end of 2024, she was senior counsel for Rewiring America, one of five groups in a coalition that was awarded an Environmental Protection Agency grant. But Abrams did not "head up" the coalition, and there's no evidence she directly received any of the grant money.
Trump appeared to be referring to a $2 billion Environmental Protection Agency grant awarded in April 2024 to a coalition of clean energy groups known as Power Forward Communities to fund energy efficient housing projects around the country. A news release announcing the coalition included a phrase similar to language from Trump's speech: "A new coalition forms for unprecedented US housing decarbonization."
That coalition included Rewiring America and four other groups that came together in 2023 to apply for $9.5 billion from the Inflation Reduction Act's clean energy funding.
After what it described as a robust review process, the EPA awarded the grant under then-President Joe Biden.
Power Forward Communities said Feb. 24 it was beginning work on several projects including energy efficiency upgrades in Clinton, Iowa, a new apartment complex in Detroit, Michigan, and home renovations in Salem, Massachusetts. It said those investments would total about $539 million — or about 27% of the total EPA grant.
There's no evidence Abrams directly received any of the grant money or that she currently leads either Rewiring America or the broader coalition. She is not listed on Rewiring America's "Meet the leadership team" portion of its website, for example.
Her spokesperson, Joshua Karp, told PolitiFact that Abrams did not have a role at Power Forward Communities beyond her position at Rewiring America. Power Forward Communities CEO Tim Mayopoulos told Politico that Abrams was not paid by Power Forward Communities or involved beyond her work at Rewiring America.
"Stacey Abrams has not received a penny of this EPA grant," Mayopoulos said in the Feb. 24 Politico article. "It was never the plan for her to receive any money from this grant. Power Forward Communities has no relationship with Ms. Abrams, other than the fact that she's one of the people who have advised one of our coalition members in the past."
In October 2023, shortly after Rewiring America announced Power Forward Communities' creation, Abrams said in an X post she was "Thrilled to be part of (Rewiring America) and the Power Forward Communities coalition."
In an apparent response to the mention in Trump's Tuesday speech, Abrams said she stood by her energy work.
Trump said his administration identified $1.9 billion going to a "decarbonization of homes" group that Abrams "headed up."
This is inaccurate. From March 2023 through the end of 2024, Abrams was senior counsel for Rewiring America, one of five groups in the Power Forward Communities coalition.
Power Forward Communities was awarded a $2 billion EPA grant, but Abrams did not "head up" that group and there's no evidence she directly received any of the grant money. The coalition's CEO said Abrams was not paid by Power Forward Communities and did not receive any of the federal funds.
We rate Trump's claim False.
PolitiFact Contributing Writer Caleb McCullough contributed to this report.
PolitiFact, Without evidence, social media posts claim fraud in EPA grant to Stacey Abrams-linked group, Feb. 26, 2025
Politico, Recipient isn't giving in as Trump's EPA tries to revoke climate grants, Feb. 24, 2025
Environmental Protection Agency, Biden-Harris Administration Announces $20 Billion in Grants to Mobilize Private Capital and Deliver Clean Energy and Climate Solutions to Communities Across America, April 4, 2024
Rewiring America, Stacey Abrams joins Rewiring America as senior counsel, March 14, 2023
Power Forward Communities, Power Forward Communities Announces More Than Half a Billion Dollars in Investments to Lower Housing Costs and Utility Bills for Families Nationwide, Feb. 24, 2025
Stacey Abrams X post, Oct. 15, 2023
Stacey Abrams X post, March 4, 2025
National Civil Rights Museum, Stacey Abrams: Champion of Voting Rights Honored at the National Civil Rights Museum, accessed March 5, 2025
Stacey Abrams Instagram post with CNN clip, March 5, 2025
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Trump claim on decarbonization group receiving $2 billion is false
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