Brown, Goldstein & Levy partner Joshua N. Auerbach was recently featured by the National Law Journal, The Baltimore Banner, and The Daily Record for his representation of Baltimore nonprofit Green & Healthy Homes Initiative (GHHI) in a lawsuit challenging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s termination of $180 million in grants under the Thriving Communities Program, which supports community-based environmental and public health projects. Two co-plaintiff organizations joined GHHI’s challenge to the EPA.
U.S. District Judge Adam B. Abelson ruled that the EPA had overstepped its statutory authority under the Clean Air Act, which directs EPA to award “environmental and climate justice block grants.” The court explained: “When EPA terminated the grants at issue, it exceeded its statutory authority under the Clean Air Act because it cancelled these grants precisely because they are ‘environmental justice’ programs.” The ruling restores grant funding to the three nonprofits, which had already begun the work of awarding subgrants to community organizations before EPA’s abrupt termination of grant funding.
The case has drawn significant public interest due to its implications for environmental protection grant funding and agency accountability. In speaking to The Daily Record, Josh explained the broader context behind the litigation: “It became clear through the filing of the record that there was this basic hostility to the concept of environmental justice.”
In the National Law Journal’s coverage, Josh praised the court’s decision, stating, “Judge Abelson’s ruling is absolutely correct based on existing precedent.” He emphasized the damaging impact of the EPA’s decision: “Here there were enormous reliance interests. Reliance on commitments the EPA had made for over a year.” Speaking further to The Daily Record, he highlighted how sudden program cuts without explanation can cripple nonprofits’ ability to serve disadvantaged communities.
GHHI—represented by Josh along with BGL partners Andrew D. Freeman and Neel K. Lalchandani—is a Baltimore-based nonprofit organization that has long focused on addressing the housing-based causes of lead poisoning, asthma, household injury, and energy inefficiency and creating affordable homes that are healthy, safe and resilient. The firm is proud to have helped protect vital environmental and public health projects in communities across the country while holding EPA accountable for implementing the Clean Air Act.
Joshua N. Auerbach brings over 20 years of experience representing clients in complex civil litigation and working to expand access to health care and protect consumers. Much of Josh’s experience has been in state and local government. At the Office of the Attorney General of Maryland, Josh worked both as a litigator and as an adviser to public officials and state agencies. His litigation experience includes leading major enforcement actions under Maryland’s consumer protection and false claims laws, as well as defending constitutional and administrative law challenges to state laws, regulations, and enforcement actions. Learn more about Josh here.
Founded in 1982, Brown Goldstein & Levy is a law firm based in Baltimore, Maryland, with an office in Washington, DC. The firm is nationally recognized in a wide variety of practice areas, including complex civil and commercial litigation, civil rights, health care, family law, and criminal defense. Above all else, Brown Goldstein & Levy is a client-centered law firm that brings decades of experience and passionate, effective advocacy to your fight for justice.
PLEASE FIND MEDIA COVERAGE RELATED TO THE CASE BELOW
Federal judge sides with Baltimore nonprofit over EPA grant cuts | The Daily Record (June 24, 2025)
US Judge Rules Trump EPA Unlawfully Terminated Environmental Justice Grants | National Law Journal (June 20, 2025)
Judge rules EPA termination of environmental justice grants was unlawful | Politico (6/18/2025)
Baltimore judge orders EPA to restore $180M in environmental justice grants | The Baltimore Banner (6/17/2025)
EPA Ordered to Rethink Enviro Justice Grant Terminations | Law360 (June 17, 2025)