Court Reinstates $7 Billion Solar for All Program Cut by Trump

A federal court in Rhode Island has rejected the Trump administration’s attempt to cut funding for the Solar For All program, a $7 billion initiative designed to install rooftop solar panels in low‑income communities. Judge Mary McElroy, a Trump‑appointed magistrate, issued a ruling that vacated the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision to terminate the program and to recoup the money already disbursed. The court found that the EPA’s action violated the program’s statutory framework and the agency’s own guidance on how to manage the funds.

Solar For All was launched in 2020 to accelerate clean‑energy adoption in underserved neighborhoods and to create jobs in the renewable‑energy sector. The program earmarks federal grants and loans for community‑based solar projects, aiming to reduce energy costs for households that historically have been excluded from the benefits of rooftop solar. By halting the program, the administration had sought to reallocate the $7 billion to other priorities, but the court determined that the termination was not authorized under the program’s legal mandate.

The decision restores the program’s funding stream and allows the EPA to continue supporting solar projects in disadvantaged areas. It also signals a broader judicial willingness to scrutinize executive actions that affect federally funded environmental initiatives. The outcome is expected to keep the program’s original schedule intact, ensuring that communities slated to receive solar installations will not face delays or cancellations.