Millions of dollars in federal funding for research and environmental projects in East Tennessee could be affected by a Trump administration freeze of grants and contracts at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reportedly put in place earlier this week.
The EPA awards over $4 billion in grants and other assistance each year to organizations ranging from state government to small nonprofits, according to it's website. Jason McDonald, a public affairs specialist for the EPA, said by email Thursday that staff are reviewing grants and contracts with the incoming transition team and that pending the review, will continue to award what he called environmental program grants and state revolving loan fund grants.
"We are working to quickly address issues related to other categories of grants," McDonald said. The goal is to complete the grants and contracts review by the close of business Friday.
Read the full story from our news partner at knoxnews.com.