Biden's Energy Handouts Make USAID Look Like a Lemonade

The Trump Administration is rightfully calling attention to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) over its questionable and, in some cases, outright fraudulent spending. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has revealed a pattern of wasteful expenditures that cast serious doubt on the agency’s financial oversight. The Trump Administration took decisive action by shutting off the money spigot and taking down the USAID website. However, while the public’s attention is correctly focused on USAID’s mismanagement, another much larger money pit remains wide open: the Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office (LPO).

Unlike USAID, the DOE loan office still has its website up, proudly boasting about the staggering sums of taxpayer money it burned through in just four years. According to its own reporting, during the Biden administration the LPO funneled over $100 billion into green energy projects, many of which have dubious economic viability and even more concerning political connections. The scale of this spending dwarfs USAID’s excesses and should raise alarms about whether taxpayer dollars were being used wisely or simply handed out to politically favored companies.

Consider the $6.5 billion loan given to struggling electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian. This massive infusion of taxpayer-backed funds came just a year after Rivian executives appeared to have special access to the White House, raising serious concerns about whether political favoritism played a role in the decision. Rivian, despite being lauded as a major player in the EV market, has faced significant financial challenges, casting doubt on the wisdom of this investment.

Another troubling case is former Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm’s decision to allocate $14 billion in energy loans to companies with which she has personal ties. In defiance of the inspector general, these funds disproportionately benefited companies based in Michigan, Granholm’s home state, prompting ethical concerns about whether these transactions were based on merit or political favoritism. Such conflicts of interest erode public trust and demand a thorough investigation.

The conflicts of interest don’t stop there. Granholm owned stock in electric bus manufacturer Proterra while the White House actively promoted the company. This glaring conflict of interest only came to light and then Proterra declared bankruptcy, leaving taxpayers on the hook for yet another failed green energy venture. These examples illustrate a broader pattern within the Biden administration’s green energy agenda: massive government loans being doled out to politically connected firms with little regard for their financial stability or the likelihood of repayment.

All of this was made possible by the so-called Inflation Reduction Act (IRA,) which became the largest green slush fund in American history. Inspector generals across Washington, D.C. have expressed concerns that funds from the IRA were being distributed so rapidly that oversight mechanisms couldn’t keep up. This raises the likelihood that billions of taxpayer dollars were squandered on projects that may never deliver meaningful results. The Biden administration also made a concerted effort to lock in loan contracts before leaving office, making it more difficult for the incoming Trump administration to put a stop to this reckless spending spree.

While the scrutiny of USAID’s wasteful spending is warranted, it’s time to turn attention to an even bigger problem: the green energy giveaway facilitated by Biden’s DOE Loan Programs Office. There is a green whale of potential waste and fraud waiting to be uncovered, and if lawmakers are serious about accountability, they will swiftly investigate where these billions have gone. Taxpayers deserve transparency, and the green gravy train needs to be derailed before more money is wasted on politically motivated boondoggles.

Larry Behrens is an energy expert and the Communications Director for Power The Future. He has appeared on Fox News, ZeroHedge, and NewsMax speaking in defense of American energy workers. You can follow him on X/Twitter @larrybehrens.