Farmers in Trump country banked on clean energy grants. Then things changed.

The US Department of Agriculture announced Tuesday it will release grant funds to farmers and small rural business owners to build renewable energy projects.

The move has left some farmers perplexed and doubtful that they’ll ever get the grant money they were promised.

Some of the roughly 6,000 grant applicants have already completed the solar, wind, or other energy projects and are awaiting repayment from the government.

The top 10 congressional districts that received the most REAP grants are represented by Republicans who have said little publicly about the funding freezes affecting thousands of constituents.

Rep. Chellie Pingree , a longtime farmer and Maine Democrat , said she thinks it’s illegal and unconstitutional for the administration to withhold grant money allocated by Congress .

Some contend the administration is unfairly making farmers jump through more hoops.

Environmental groups have sharply criticized the administration’s move, and several lawsuits are challenging the legality of the freeze of IRA funding.

Since 2023 , when IRA funding became available, the USDA has given or loaned about $21.3 billion through programs to support renewable energy in rural areas.

One of the plaintiffs, Laura Beth Resnick , grows dahlias, zinnias, and other cut flowers on a small farm, says she's not confident she'll get her grant money.