The FBI, the EPA and the Treasury told Citibank to freeze the funds while the Trump administration tries to recover money from the climate
CITIBANK revealed on Wednesday in judicial files that the FBI, EPA, Inspector General of EPA and the Treasury Department all asked that the banks freeze the accounts of several non -profit and governmental organizations of the State.
The accounts were frozen in February, but the new documents Make public details that had been unknown before, including a complete list of non -profit organizations under FBI control.
The funds were disbursed within the framework of the greenhouse gas reduction fund of $ 27 billion, which was created by the law on the reduction of inflation, a law Adopted by Congress in 2022. From that, the EPA received $ 14 billion for a national clean investment fundwhich offers subsidies to green banks.
Green banks use these funds to provide funding for technological projects specific across the country. Startups that have technologies ready to evolve in trade were eligible to receive funding to make projects a reality.
Funding was to be used for loans, which were to be reimbursed and recycled for future loans. Green banks tend to have delinquency rates equally with commercial and residential portfolios owned by other commercial lenders.
Citibank was selected as a financial agent to administer this money, holding it in accounts under the names of the winners. It also administers an investment accelerator program for equity of $ 6 billion distinct dollars. The EPA contract with Citibank was announced publicly in April 2024.
The FBI has requested that Citibank places 30 days to freeze accounts held by non -profit organizations which have been recipient of the financing of the Green Bank. He also asked the bank to freeze other accounts of non -profit and state government agency, including Habitat for Humanity, Centraide, Colorado Clean Energy Fund and the Department of Taxation and Finance of the New York State.
Three non -profit organizations that have received green bank funds continued Citibank, asking the bank to release money on their accounts.
EPA’s administrator, Lee Zeldin, said the greenhouse gas reduction fund will not align with the agency’s priorities and that he was concerned about fraud, although he did not provide evidence to support this complaint.
