Federal Funding Opportunities and Guidance – September 19, 2025

September 19, 2025

We hope you’re staying strong! Please know that EPN and L4GG remain deeply committed to standing with you and your organizations during this challenging time. Please read on for updates about our upcoming webinars/office hours, an appeal that was just filed on behalf of the Section 138 environmental justice case, upcoming events, and more.

Webinars/Office Hours:

1. Updates and Reminders

– We have decided to cancel our next webinar (Wednesday, September 24th) to accommodate those observing Rosh Hashanah and/or attending New York Climate Week. In the meantime, we are still here to support you! Please reach out to epa-support@trccompanies.com for any compliance issues. And for any legal questions or if you are in need of templates, please email SFA@L4GG.org for Solar for All grants and FPC@L4GG.org for all others.

– And please sign up here to register for our future grants management/safeguarding federal funding calls, including our next call on Wednesday, October 8, at 12:30pm eastern.

– In an effort to protect sensitive litigation information, we are unable to mass share slides and/or detailed recaps of some of the webinars. As a result, we recommend taking good notes or screenshots of slides during webinars, and we ask that you please keep these materials for your own reference and NOT share them broadly. In addition, we’re always happy to talk through things 1:1 after a meeting.

Legal Developments:

2. Appalachian Voices v. EPA Appeals to the D.C. Circuit Court

On September 16, Appalachian Voices, along with the other plaintiffs, including nonprofit organizations, tribes, and local governments, filed an appeal of the decision dismissing their class-action lawsuit challenging the termination of EPA’s Environmental and Climate Justice Block Grant program. The case now moves to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. As we shared in last week’s webinar, this is one of several ways that grantees are pushing back. If we’re successful on appeal, the case will come back to Judge Leon in District court to rule on the class certification and termination. You can read more in the press release here, find the notice of appeal here, and find all relevant case materials on the public docket here. 

3. Court of Federal Claims

The Supreme Court has suggested that in order to receive direct monetary relief, grantees may need to go into the Court of Federal Claims, which is a smaller court where cases typically take longer. L4GG, EPN, and their pro bono networks are working hard to make this option available to grantees on a pro bono basis. Stay tuned for more information on how grantees can prepare for the possibility of filing a lawsuit in the Court of Federal Claims.

Upcoming Events:

4. Reconnecting Communities Summit 

The Reconnecting Communities Summit, hosted by ReConnect Rondo with support from Communities First Fund, McKnight Foundation, Equitable Transportation Fund, AmericaFWD, Hive Fund, Environmental Protection Network (EPN), and Lawyers for Good Government (L4GG), will be held in Washington, D.C., September 29–30, 2025.

This CBO-led Summit brings community voices to the national stage, giving participants the chance to engage with federal leaders, shape policy, and build alliances that strengthen impact nationwide. The Summit embodies the theme “The Power of Us: Restoring, Revitalizing, Reconnecting Together,” highlighting the collective strength of communities working together to guide infrastructure and environmental investments. Travel and hotel costs are covered, with priority for organizations under $1.5M and communities affected by federal fund rescissions. Register here.

5. Center for Creative Land Recycling Brownfields Grant Application & Implementation Workshop

On Thursday, October 9, 12-4 PM ET, via Zoom, the Center for Creative Land Recycling is leading the National League of Cities’ Grant Application and Implementation Workshop for the FY26 EPA Brownfields Assessment, Cleanup and Multipurpose Grants. This year’s FY26 EPA Multipurpose, Assessment, and Cleanup (MAC) Brownfields Grants are likely the final opportunity to tap into elevated funding levels before they drop. The EPA anticipates that more than $255 million will be available during the FY 26 Brownfields funding cycle, which is anticipated to open in September.

Now is the time to move quickly and secure resources that can turn contaminated sites into thriving community assets. Join experts from the Center for Creative Land Recycling, National League of Cities and other guest speakers for an insiders’ look at program changes, application tips, and strategies to make your application stand out. Here, you’ll find additional information, resources, and the opportunity to register.

Reconsideration of 2009 Endangerment Finding 

6. Comments Due September 22

As a reminder, EPA released a draft rule to repeal the Endangerment Finding, which would limit the agency’s ability to regulate Greenhouse Gas Emissions and cripple a wide-range of regulations across the power, transportation, and oil and natural gas sectors. EPA must review and respond to ALL individual unique comments, so please make sure to submit your comments by the close of the Notice and Comment period on September 22, 2025, at 11:59 PM EDT. 

Communications:

7. Use Climate Week As a Hook 

Every September, thousands of people convene in New York City for one of the world’s largest set of climate meetings. That might feel a world away from the challenges you’re managing in your local community; however, dozens of reporters will be using it as a “hook” to publish stories next week about climate action in the United States. Use this opportunity to pitch your story this week. Review our media guide here for ideas and contact zealan@impactstrategy.us if you need further assistance.

Resources:

8. NGO Security Resources

The Equation Campaign has several publicly available resources designed to strengthen the security of advocates and NGOs. They recently hosted Stay Ready: Know Your Constitutional Rights featuring speakers Nick Robinson from the International Center for Nonprofit Law (ICNL) and Mara Verheyden-Hilliard from the Center for Protest Law and Litigation.

The most important guidance from the webinar was that if you are confronted by law enforcement of any kind regarding detention, arrest or investigation you should politely but firmly insist upon your right to remain silent and request to consult an attorney. If you do find yourself arrested or facing investigation by the FBI or other law enforcement agencies, feel free to reach out to the Equation Campaign’s security lead Gillian Caldwell at gillian@equationcampaign.org or (301) 326-7802 via phone or Signal. 

Here are the resources from the webinar:

9. NRDC and WE ACT’s “Stolen Futures” Resources

Our partners at NRDC and WE ACT launched a map (scroll down) and stories from the frontlines this week that visualizes and describes where funding has been frozen or terminated across EPA’s grant programs.