A closer examination of the funding relationship between Rewiring America and Power Forward Communities (PFC) reveals significant discrepancies, especially concerning Stacey Abrams’s role. Tax documents indicate that Rewiring America, which received over $5 million in federal climate funding, has more ties to this grant than Abrams initially acknowledged. This $5 million was part of a larger $2 billion grant from the Environmental Protection Agency awarded in April 2024—a grant that was cut by EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin due to concerns over conflicts of interest.
According to Ian Magruder, Rewiring America’s director of partnerships, Abrams “played a pivotal role” in securing the EPA grant. However, the narrative shifts significantly when PFC filed a lawsuit against Zeldin. In that legal action, PFC attempted to downplay Abrams’s involvement, claiming the relationship was “alleged.” Timothy Mayopoulos, PFC’s CEO, stated that beyond her past advisory role, there was no substantial connection to Abrams. This contradiction raises questions about the integrity and transparency of the group’s funding structure.
Zeldin pointed out that tax documents reveal PFC funneled over half of its $9.5 million received from the EPA directly to Rewiring America. He criticized what he described as a politically motivated decision by the Biden administration, issuing a warning about the potential for misuse of taxpayer dollars. According to Zeldin, the EPA’s funds were allocated to organizations like PFC that he asserts are “riddled with self-dealing and conflicts of interest.” He commented, “This revelation is the latest egregious example… of how, in rushing $20 billion out the door… the Biden EPA doled out hard-earned tax dollars to unqualified recipients.”
The funding dynamics within the coalition surrounding Power Forward raise further scrutiny. While Rewiring America stood to gain a substantial return on its funding, the other coalition members received relatively minimal support—United Way Worldwide, for example, only received $145,013. The lack of fairness in resource distribution emphasizes a problematic allocation of funds, where larger sums were funneled to Abrams’s organization for vague operational needs. Zeldin’s findings stress, “Every single penny given to this Stacey Abrams-connected NGO last year was either sent to another pass-through entity or used to pay the salaries of its well-connected top officials.”
As the investigation unfolds, neither Rewiring America nor PFC has offered additional comments on these allegations. The implications of this funding scandal are serious, particularly regarding the potential misuse of taxpayer dollars and the political motivations behind these grants. With these revelations coming to light, Abrams’s rising prominence may not be enough to shield her from scrutiny surrounding the financial practices of her affiliated organizations.
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