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US EPA administrator says he canceled DEI grants totaling $1.7 billion

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan announced the cancellation of $1.7 billion in grants that were part of the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) program, which had been rebranded to include Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) criteria. This decision was made after backlash from Republican lawmakers who criticized the inclusion of DEI considerations in the grant distribution process, arguing that it politicized the program. The grants were intended to fund projects reducing diesel emissions but were redirected to focus on environmental justice and DEI, which led to accusations of the EPA prioritizing social goals over environmental ones. Regan emphasized that the EPA remains committed to environmental justice but acknowledged the need to address the concerns raised by the lawmakers.

Read the Full Reuters Article at:
[ https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/us-epa-administrator-says-he-canceled-dei-grants-totaling-17-billion/ar-AA1AE59m ]