Filed Date: Dec. 17, 2025
Case Ongoing
Clearinghouse coding complete
Passed in 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) appropriated $2.8 billion to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to award grants to “monitor, prevent, and/or remediate harmful effects of pollution including climate change to benefit disadvantaged communities.” After submitting an application and being reviewed by the EPA, Lucky Shoals was awarded a grant of $19,953,400.00 by EPA under the Community Change Grants program on December 2, 2024, for the “acquisition, construction, and operation of a green campus for the community of Norcross to preserve and rehabilitate green space, train the community in emergency services and clean energy jobs, and provide greenhouse gas and pollution monitoring, prevention, remediation, and mitigation services.”
On January 20, 2025, President Trump issued an Executive Order titled “Terminating the Green New Deal,” which instructed all Executive agencies to “immediately pause the disbursement of funds appropriated through the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.” EPA subsequently terminated the IRA’s Community Change Grants program by sending letters to terminate all such grants on May 2, 2025, including the grant awarded to Lucky Shoals, because the “objectives of the award [were] no longer consistent with EPA funding priorities”
Lucky Shoals brought suit challenging the grant cancellation against the EPA and its Administrator Lee Zeldin on December 17, 2025, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. The case was assigned to Judge Michael Lawrence Brown. The complaint alleged the grant cancellation was arbitrary and capricious and exceeded the EPA’s authority in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), was ultra vires, and violated the constitutional separation of powers. Lucky Shoals sought declarative and injunctive relief seeking restoration of their grant award, as well as attorneys’ fees.
The case is ongoing.
Summary Authors
Madena Mustafa (2/4/2026)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72048763/parties/lucky-shoals-community-association-inc-v-united-states-environmental/
Brown, Michael Lawrence (Georgia)
Evans, Stacey Godfrey (Georgia)
Johnson, John Amble (Georgia)
Lott, George (Georgia)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72048763/lucky-shoals-community-association-inc-v-united-states-environmental/
Last updated March 2, 2026, 12:12 a.m.
State / Territory:
Case Type(s):
Presidential/Gubernatorial Authority
Special Collection(s):
Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government
Key Dates
Filing Date: Dec. 17, 2025
Case Ongoing: Yes
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
Lucky Shoals, a 501(c)(3) non-profit entity designed to facilitate community and economic development
Plaintiff Type(s):
Non-profit NON-religious organization
Public Interest Lawyer: No
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Federal
Lee Zeldin
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. §§ 551 et seq.
Ex Parte Young (Federal) or Bivens
Constitutional Clause(s):
Other Dockets:
Northern District of Georgia 1:25-cv-07221
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: None Yet / None
Relief Sought:
Relief Granted:
Source of Relief:
Issues
Environmental Justice and Resources: