{"id":2143072,"date":"2024-01-08T05:07:02","date_gmt":"2024-01-08T10:07:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/how-the-biden-administration-put-race-at-the-center-of-government-spending\/"},"modified":"2024-01-08T05:11:19","modified_gmt":"2024-01-08T10:11:19","slug":"how-the-biden-administration-put-race-at-the-center-of-government-spending","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/how-the-biden-administration-put-race-at-the-center-of-government-spending\/","title":{"rendered":"Biden Administration prioritizes race in government spending"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">14<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fhow-the-biden-administration-put-race-at-the-center-of-government-spending%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2143072&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>The Struggle of Gillette, Wyoming: A\u200d Coal Town Left Behind<\/h2>\n<p>The residents of Gillette, \u2062Wyoming, \u200donce enjoyed economic gains almost \u200cunheard of \u2062in rural \u2063communities thanks to \u200ba single commodity: coal.<\/p>\n<p>The city\u2019s deposits account for more than a third of the\u2063 nation\u2019s\u2064 coal production, and a vast majority of Gillette residents work\u2063 in\u2063 coal-related industries. Income grew\u2062 nearly 720 percent between \u200b1970\u2062 and 2018. By comparison, Detroit\u2019s\u200c metropolitan area \u2063saw its per capita personal income grow by roughly 150 percent over the same period.<\/p>\n<p>But Gillette is no boomtown. With\u200d an \u200b<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/illinois-democrats-kill-states-only-school-choice-program\/\" title=\"Illinois Democrats end sole school choice program.\">average family income<\/a> of just over $83,000, the \u2062local\u2063 economy\u2062 is fragile and almost entirely dependent\u2064 on \u2062mining. As President Joe Biden and\u200d the Environmental Protection Agency push through regulations aimed at shuttering domestic coal production by 2035,\u200c Gillette has looked to the federal government for help.<\/p>\n<h3>A Missed Opportunity for Gillette<\/h3>\n<p>Former Gillette County \u200dcommissioner Rusty \u2064Bell, who now works at a state agency dedicated to applying\u200b for federal grants, thought his \u2063city was \u200ba\u200c perfect \u2064match for one of the hundreds of federal grants \u2063up for grabs: more than $100 million to clean up and repurpose\u2063 abandoned mines.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;These grants looked \u2063like they were \u200bwritten\u2062 for our area,&#8221; he told the <em>Washington \u2063Free Beacon<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>And yet, Gillette wasn\u2019t chosen. &#8220;We weren\u2019t even\u200c a finalist,&#8221; Bell says.<\/p>\n<p>He suspects it\u2062 is in part because the town is more than 90 percent white, a factor that \u2063makes it hard to secure federal aid under\u2063 a little-known federal initiative established in one of Biden\u2019s\u200b first executive orders.<\/p>\n<h3>The Controversial Justice40 Initiative<\/h3>\n<p>The program, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/environmentaljustice\/justice40\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Justice40<\/a>, which the White House describes as\u2064 a &#8220;whole of government effort,&#8221; decreed that 40 percent of the beneficiaries of federal climate and environmental programs must come from &#8220;underserved communities.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The White \u200bHouse stops short of saying that those communities are defined by race, \u2062and that benefits like federal infrastructure grants are likely to be doled out on \u2062the basis of a community\u2019s racial composition rather than a community\u2019s needs.<\/p>\n<p>But others are saying the quiet part out loud.<\/p>\n<h3>The\u200b Influence of\u200c Nonprofits and Racial\u2063 Justice<\/h3>\n<p>The \u2063Biden administration is also\u2062 leaning on a cottage industry of nonprofits that\u200c have sprung up to \u2063assist communities applying for \u2063grants. They explicitly define\u2063 Justice40 in racial\u200c terms.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/justice40accelerator.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Justice40 Accelerator<\/a>, for example, hails Biden\u2019s executive order as\u200d a way to remedy &#8220;centuries\u2063 of structural racism.&#8221; \u2064The group, which says \u200bit\u2064 directed $8 million dollars in federal funding to applicants\u200d last year, <a href=\"https:\/\/justice40accelerator.org\/faqs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">says<\/a> &#8220;Black, Indigenous,\u2063 and\/or People of\u2062 Color&#8221; who serve &#8220;BIPOC-majority communities&#8221; should apply for grant assistance. And academics at \u2064the University of California, Los Angeles partnered with the \u200bGeorge\u200d Soros-backed New Venture\u2062 Fund in 2021 to\u2064 create The Justice\u200b 40, \u200bwhich <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thejustice40.com\/\">works<\/a> to ensure &#8220;an accountability framework&#8221; for the Biden administration &#8220;centered on racial justice and equity guides.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h3>The Impact on Grant Applications<\/h3>\n<p>The Inflation \u2062Reduction Act set aside $200 million for nonprofit groups\u200b to help \u200dprovide &#8220;technical assistance&#8221; for the bill\u2019s implementation.\u2062 Only &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/they-justified-hamas-terrorism-now-biden-is-letting-them-dole-out-taxpayer-dollars\/\" title=\"Biden allows funding to those who justified Hamas terrorism\">community-based nonprofit organizations<\/a>,&#8221; similar to the \u2062Justice40 Accelerator, are eligible for\u200c that money.<\/p>\n<p>Because federal climate programs now include everything from affordable housing to infrastructure projects, hundreds\u2063 of billions of dollars are probably out \u200dof reach\u2064 for communities like Gillette.<\/p>\n<p>The result is \u2062that bureaucrats responsible for doling out grants are\u200c no longer focused on &#8220;how \u200dto best\u200b spend this money.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;They\u2019re\u200c injecting these unrelated \u2064ethnic and racial and justice criteria into all of this,&#8221; says Patrick McIlheran, policy director at the Wisconsin-based Badger Institute.<\/p>\n<h3>The Transformation of Federal Spending<\/h3>\n<p>Although relatively unknown, Justice40 could prove to be one of \u2063the largest transformations in federal spending since the 20th century.<\/p>\n<p>According to Manhattan Institute senior \u2062fellow James Meigs, the executive order is part of \u2064an ideological movement that seeks to &#8220;fundamentally change\u2063 our underlying political and economic systems&#8221; by requiring federal agencies to pursue\u2064 policies focused on racial equity alongside infrastructure \u200bimprovements, goals that are often in conflict.<\/p>\n<h3>The Challenges\u2062 and Consequences<\/h3>\n<p>Even early applications of Justice40 reveal how the \u200bprogram is changing the federal infrastructure grant process.<\/p>\n<p>Now, only a two-square mile area of Neenah, Wisconsin,\u200c a manufacturing \u2062hub \u2063with an average family income of $77,229\u2014where the bulk \u2063of \u2063the city\u2019s small black population lives\u2014is considered &#8220;disadvantaged,&#8221; \u2062according\u2062 to \u200ca White House <a href=\"https:\/\/screeningtool.geoplatform.gov\/en\/#12.4\/44.18567\/-88.47936\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">screening tool<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Bureaucrats responsible for \u200bdisbursing federal grants are already straining under Justice40\u2019s mandates, according to a senior career civil servant who spoke with the \u2064 <em>Free Beacon<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>Even grants to improve infrastructure \u2064used by the general population will have to meet Justice40\u2019s\u2063 community standards.<\/p>\n<h3>The Future of Federal Spending<\/h3>\n<p>Those are the kind of \u200dfederal standards Americans\u200c can\u2063 expect under regulations like Justice40, Meigs says.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;There is no evidence and no research behind this environmental justice stuff. It\u2019s just kind of crossing your fingers and hoping for the best.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> \u200cWhat factors should be considered \u2064in federal grant programs for struggling coal towns like Gillette?<\/h2>\n<p><span>  Le for allocating federal grants are left with limited options when it\u2064 comes to supporting coal towns like Gillette. The Justice40 initiative, with its focus on underserved communities, has inadvertently created a system that puts coal towns at a disadvantage.<\/p>\n<h3>The Unintended Consequences\u2063 of Justice40<\/h3>\n<p>While the intention behind the \u2064Justice40 initiative may be noble, the approach taken by the Biden administration has led to unintended\u2062 consequences. By prioritizing racial \u2063composition over community needs, the federal government has neglected\u200c towns like Gillette, which rely heavily on coal-related industries for their economic survival.<\/p>\n<p>The demographic makeup\u200c of Gillette, with its majority white population, has made it difficult for the \u200btown to secure federal aid. This is because the Justice40 initiative, under the guise of addressing racial disparities, has created a\u200d system that excludes communities based on their racial composition. As a result, coal towns like Gillette are left to struggle on their own.<\/p>\n<h3>Looking for a Solution<\/h3>\n<p>Gillette, once a thriving coal \u200ctown, finds itself in a state of uncertainty. As the federal government \u2064pushes\u200d for a shift away \u2062from coal, the town \u200cmust now <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrats-at-odds-over-medicare-expansions-drug-pricing-as-they-race-for-a-deal\/\" title=\"Democrats At Odds Over Medicare Expansions, Drug Pricing As They Race For A Deal\">find alternative ways<\/a> to sustain its economy and support its \u200dresidents. The dependency on coal-related industries has left the local economy fragile, and\u2062 the closure of coal mines will only exacerbate the problem.<\/p>\n<p>To ensure a just transition for towns like Gillette, it is essential that federal grant programs consider the unique needs and challenges of these communities. Instead\u200b of focusing solely\u2063 on racial composition, grants should be awarded based on economic need, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/november-to-remember-texas-eyes-up-its-own-energy-fund\/\" title=\"Texas seeks to establish its own energy fund in November.\">job creation potential<\/a>, and the ability to diversify local industries.<\/p>\n<h3>Conclusion<\/h3>\n<p>As Gillette faces an uncertain future, the struggle of this coal town must not go unnoticed. The federal government\u200b has a responsibility to \u200bsupport communities that have been left behind in the transition to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/6-takeaways-from-bidens-g7-speech-from-fulfilling-a-40-trillion-need-in-other-nations-to-gaffes\/\" title=\"6 Takeaways From Biden\u2019s G7 Speech: From Fulfilling A \u2018 Trillion Need\u2019 In Other Nations To Gaffes\">cleaner energy sources<\/a>. A more balanced approach \u200dthat takes into account both economic needs and environmental goals is crucial for ensuring a just transition that\u2062 doesn&#8217;t leave coal towns like Gillette behind.<\/p>\n<p>By reevaluating the criteria for federal \u200bgrants and providing targeted assistance to struggling communities, the federal government can help coal towns navigate the challenges of transitioning to a post-coal economy. Only then \u200dcan the residents of Gillette and other similar towns have hope for a sustainable and\u2063 prosperous future.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Gillette, Wyoming thrived economically due to coal, an exceptional asset in rural areas. With over a third of the nation&#8217;s coal production, the city&#8217;s deposits were abundant. Most residents were employed in coal-related sectors, leading to a remarkable 720% income growth from 1970 to 2018<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":197,"featured_media":2143073,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[544],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2143072","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-free-beacon"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2143072","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/197"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2143072"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2143072\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2143073"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2143072"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2143072"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2143072"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}