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Nearly Three Dozen Now Lawsuits and Counting: Attorney General Platkin Sues Trump Over Cuts to Solar Programs
Attorney General Platkin files lawsuit against EPA over termination of solar program for low-income households
TRENTON, NJ — New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin, alongside 22 other plaintiffs, has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin. This legal action concerns the illegal termination of a $7 billion program designed to provide solar energy to more than 900,000 households in low-income and disadvantaged communities across the country.
“The Trump Administration’s anti-environmental agenda is not only extreme and harmful, but also completely lawless,” said Attorney General Platkin. He added that the “President and his appointees cannot simply eliminate Congressionally-authorized programs on a whim.”
The Solar for All program was established by Congress in 2022 as part of the Inflation Reduction Act. It directed the EPA to grant competitive funds for deploying solar projects in underprivileged areas. By August 2024, the program’s funding had been fully awarded, with New Jersey and the other plaintiffs proceeding with project planning and stakeholder engagement.
However, in August, the EPA suddenly terminated the program and retracted the majority of the funds that had already been allocated. This decision left the plaintiff states without necessary resources to advance their solar initiatives despite their previous planning and commitments of state funds.
When taking office in January, President Trump focused on fossil fuel extraction while disregarding solar energy. In July, Congress passed the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” rescinding some funds for the Solar for All program. Although the EPA had previously allocated all project funding, it instead chose to terminate the program unlawfully on August 7.
Platkin and a coalition of states are pursuing legal recourse in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington. They allege that the EPA’s actions violated the Administrative Procedure Act and the U.S. Constitution’s Separation of Powers Doctrine. Simultaneously, New Jersey and additional grant recipients have initiated a lawsuit in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.
The complaint in the Federal Claims Court cites a breach of the agreements stemming from the funding cancelation. The plaintiffs seek monetary damages, interest, and fees.
Attorney General Platkin’s action represents a significant effort to uphold legal agreements aimed at providing affordable solar energy in New Jersey and other states impacted by the EPA’s termination of the program.
In a major pushback against federal actions, this lawsuit underscores the ongoing battle for access to clean energy for low-income households.
Woman Let her Wheelchair Bound Mother Die in Feces and Urine
Woman sentenced for negligent care leading to mother’s death
BLAIR COUNTY, PA – A Pennsylvania woman was sentenced to prison for allowing her wheelchair-bound mother to suffer from neglect, resulting in her death. Colleen Sayegh, 38, received a sentence of 15 months to eight years for guilty pleas on Tuesday for negligent care of a dependent person, according to Blair County Prosecutor Peter Weeks.
Authorities discovered the case after a 911 call was made on July 19, 2022. Responding officers found the victim, Sayegh’s mother, barely responsive at a residence on Mill Hill Road, with severe open wounds and dehydration.
An autopsy revealed that the victim died on July 21, 2022, from sepsis caused by skin infections linked to her living conditions. The complaint noted she had been lying in feces and urine for an extended period.
Investigators later assessed the home and reported it was in deplorable conditions. They documented animal feces scattered throughout the residence and noted a foul odor.
During the investigation, Sayegh stated her mother insisted on returning home from a nursing home after a stroke in February 2021. She acknowledged that she had not bathed her mother for several months and had not taken her to a doctor in over a year.
At sentencing, Sayegh claimed her mother refused treatment for her sores, which Judge Jackie Atherton Bernard rebutted, stating, “we don’t even treat animals like this.” She criticized Sayegh’s neglect, emphasizing the serious nature of the situation.
Peter Weeks confirmed that the prosecution was aided by the efforts of the Pennsylvania State Police and various healthcare providers. He expressed gratitude for those involved, noting it was essential to hold Sayegh accountable for the suffering caused.
Colleen Sayegh will serve her sentence following a severe neglect case that led to her mother’s tragic death.