The Biden administration is working quickly to finalize more than $25 billion in green energy loans before President-elect Donald Trump takes office, a move that is drawing concerns from lawmakers and experts about potential misuse of taxpayer money. The Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office is pushing to close 16 pending loans, including funding for electric vehicle (EV) battery plants and renewable energy projects, before Trump’s inauguration in January.

Over the past two months, the Loan Programs Office has approved seven loans worth a total of $5.9 billion, accelerating the pace compared to the previous 27 months, when only five loans were finalized for $6.5 billion. The rapid approval process has raised red flags, with critics fearing that the rushed distribution of funds increases the risk of waste, fraud, and politically connected deals that could harm taxpayers.

Republican lawmakers have been particularly vocal in their opposition, with Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairwoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) expressing concerns about the accelerated loan process. Barrasso described the push to finalize loans as a last-minute attempt to funnel money to politically connected firms, while McMorris Rodgers warned that this could result in another “Solyndra-style” disaster, referring to the 2011 bankruptcy of a solar company that received $535 million in federal loans.

While the Biden administration defends its green energy investments, citing job creation and advancements in energy independence, critics argue that the quick pace of loan approvals undermines proper oversight. The Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office, which was dormant during much of the Trump administration, has been reinvigorated under Biden, with significant funding made available through the Inflation Reduction Act. However, this has led to concerns about whether the department is rushing investments without ensuring long-term success for taxpayers.

Trump has vowed to dismantle much of the green energy framework established by the Biden administration. As the transition period begins, many Republicans expect Trump to take swift action to halt the distribution of new loans and audit existing projects, especially those fast-tracked in the final months of Biden’s presidency. The outcome of these decisions will likely shape the direction of U.S. energy policy for years to come.

With Trump set to take office, the debate over the future of these loans will intensify, as the incoming administration looks to shift priorities away from green energy initiatives. Whether these loans will be overturned or restructured remains uncertain, but the push for accountability is likely to continue.