The Trump administration announced the cancellation of $8 billion in climate-related projects across 16 states amid a government shutdown, with all affected states voting for Kamala Harris in 2024 and most led by Democratic governors, while also pausing $18 billion in New York City infrastructure projects to review for unconstitutional practices.
The Environmental Protection Agency plans to award $20 billion in grants to eight nonprofits, ranging from $500 million to $6.9 billion, to spur clean energy projects in overlooked communities. The funds will be used to offer loans to businesses, homeowners, and others to promote clean energy across the country, particularly in low-income neighborhoods, with the goal of financing community-based climate projects.
President Biden's Bay Area visit included discussions on artificial intelligence with experts from Stanford and U.C. Berkeley, where he emphasized the need to manage the risks associated with the technology. He also attended two fundraising events for his 2024 reelection campaign and announced over $600 million in investments for climate projects during his visit. While positive steps have been taken at the federal level, experts say there is still a need for a universal standard for AI. Work is underway to create legislation and partnerships around the world to address this global challenge.