Columbus' $500,000 tree grant paused due to improper planting
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — The City of Columbus' nearly $400,000 reimbursement for trees already planted in 'historically Black neighborhoods' is paused after Ohio Department of Natural Resources inspections revealed that many newly planted trees did not meet grant standards.
In a statement to NBC4, ODNR said the city's reimbursement is temporarily halted because many trees were planted incorrectly, violating grant standards. However, City Attorney Zach Klein's office said the real problem lies with Washington, accusing federal officials of illegally freezing funding and forcing cities like Columbus to take legal action.
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In February, ODNR told grant recipients to halt work on the tree project, saying the U.S. Forest Service had paused the Urban Forestry Grant. That suspension was lifted in mid-March, and ODNR resumed processing reimbursements. Still, during inspections, the state agency flagged Columbus for improper tree plantings, delaying the city's payments. Columbus maintains it followed the rules and that ODNR even requested the city submit its reimbursement paperwork for $393,930 of a $500,000 total grant, knowing payouts might not come through.
Then, on March 19, Columbus joined a nationwide lawsuit, saying the Trump administration did not have the right to 'illegally freeze and/or delay Congressionally-approved federal funding' for numerous projects, including the tree-planting grant awarded to Columbus. A little more than a week later, on March 27, ODNR notified the city that its reimbursement would be delayed until the tree planting issues were corrected.
While ODNR insists the city must fix its tree plantings before it gets paid, Columbus argues that is a separate issue and that the broader fight is about stopping the federal government from weaponizing grant money for political reasons. City officials said they are committed to holding the Trump administration accountable in court.
'The Trump administration's actions and executive orders threatening this funding warrant legal action by the city to ensure this administration follows the law and funds these grants without delay,' Klein's office said in a statement.
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ODNR Division of Forestry said it is working with city officials to properly re-plant the trees so they can qualify for reimbursement. 'Once that occurs, the city will be eligible for reimbursement through the Urban Forestry Grant,' ODNR wrote to NBC4.
Klein's office said the 'implementation' of the city's tree planting program is under the authority of Columbus' Recreation and Parks Department, which did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the trees.
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