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Grant Uncertainty: Clean School Bus Funds in Limbo
Despite the president's rescinded executive order for a federal funding pause, school districts and fleets cannot access payment portals to withdraw awarded dollars from the Clean School Bus and Heavy-Duty Vehicles programs. WRI offers advice.
February 8, 2025
WRI offered advice and resources for school districts that were awarded the EPA's Clean School Bus or Clean Heavy-Duty funding, which is facing uncertainty.
Photo: SBF/Canva
2 min to read
On Jan. 28, President Trump issued an executive order that sought to freeze certain federal grant funds. A federal judge blocked the order, and it was rescinded the following day.
Funds from the Clean School Bus Program and Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Program appear to be on pause for award disbursement anyway.
Emergency motions filed claim that the Trump administration has yet to distribute Congress-approved funding from the Inflation Reduction Act or the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, known as the bipartisan infrastructure law.
An email sent from the World Resource Institute's (WRI) Electric School Bus Initiative today stated that school districts and other fleet operators are unable to access their payment portal to draw down their awarded funds.
"There’s a lot we don’t know, and the situation remains fluid," the email read. "We know this is an uncertain time and while we don’t have all the answers, we’re here to serve as a resource as you continue to pursue your electric school bus projects."
WRI recommended awardees this guidance in the meantime:
- Retain documentation of your award, including downloading or taking screenshots of your funding status or any inability to access your payment portal.
- Adhere to all existing award obligations and compliance terms, including meeting deadlines and filing required reporting.
- Contact your elected officials and request they advocate for the release of awarded funding for electric school bus projects. For more information, email ESBinfo@wri.org.
- Reach out to WRI to update portal status or schedule a call to talk with their team for support.
The Alliance for Electric School Buses also offered some guidance and phone and email scripts for contacting Members of Congress if you're experiencing this issue.
Update as of Feb. 19, 2025
Just today, WRI sent another email sharing an update that funding recipients have reported that the payment portal is now open, and funds can once again be drawn down. However, it notes: "We have not heard of the payment portal reopening for rebate funds awarded through the third round of CSBP funding, called the 2023 Clean School Bus Rebate Program. And while we have heard from some recipients that access to the CHDV payment portal has been restored, that may not yet be the case for everyone."
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