The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), under the Trump administration and Administrator Lee Zeldin, announced on February 19, 2026, plans to revamp the Clean School Bus (CSB) Program. This program, established by the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, allocated $5 billion over five years (FY 2022–2026) to help school districts replace older diesel buses with cleaner alternatives, with a strong emphasis on zero-emission electric school buses.

The EPA’s announcement criticizes the Biden-era implementation, stating that since 2021, the program “forced unsafe and unreliable electric buses onto American schools.”

Key issues highlighted include:

• About $2.7 billion awarded so far, with roughly 90–95% going toward electric buses (and the rest mainly to propane).
• Problems with manufacturer Lion Electric (a major electric bus supplier), which filed for bankruptcy in 2024 after receiving significant funding. This led to undelivered buses, maintenance issues, unfulfilled warranties, and operational failures in some districts.
• Broader concerns about reliability in cold weather or other conditions, poor management, potential fraud/waste/abuse (noted in prior audits), and wasteful spending of taxpayer dollars.

The revamp aims to:

• Provide school districts with greater choice in bus types and fuels.
• Include more options like compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG), biofuels, hydrogen, or propane, alongside electric, while still complying with the law’s intent (which requires at least 50% of funds for zero-emission buses, typically meaning battery-electric in practice).
• Strengthen oversight, compliance, and fiscal responsibility.
• Align with President Trump’s executive orders on unleashing American energy and bringing back auto jobs.

The EPA is seeking public input via a Request for Information (RFI) on the availability, cost, and performance of these alternative fuels/technologies. This feedback will shape the 2026 funding round (the program’s final year), with about $2.3 billion remaining unspent. No new funding has been awarded under the current administration yet, and the program was paused earlier.

The official EPA news release frames this as prioritizing child safety, reliability, and efficient use of tax dollars, while fulfilling congressional requirements. Critics of the changes (from sources like environmental outlets) argue it reduces focus on zero-emission options and could slow emissions reductions from school transportation.

_______________________________________________________________________

Clean School Bus Program– US EPA

EPA is actively reviewing and revamping the Clean School Bus Program in accordance with President Trump’s Executive Order Unleashing American Energy to ensure hard-earned American tax dollars are being put to the best use possible and not frivolously wasted as was often the case under the previous administration. Under Administrator Zeldin’s leadership, EPA is committed to being exceptional stewards of taxpayer dollars and delivering measured results for American families, while still fulfilling Congressional intent. Administrator Zeldin has cancelled roughly $30 billion in wasteful grants and contracts since being confirmed as EPA Administrator. EPA anticipates providing additional information about the revamped and modernized Clean School Bus Program in the near future.

In 2021, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act directed EPA to create the CSB Program and to fund vehicle replacement projects totaling $5 billion over five years (FY 2022-2026).

View more details about awards under past funding opportunities on the  CSB Awards page.

EPA will continue to update this page with additional Clean School Bus Program funding information and educational resources. 

Request for Information for 2026 Funding Opportunity.

Request for Information- US EPA

RFI Overview

On February 19, 2026, as part of EPA’s revamp of the Clean School Bus Program, the agency issued a Request for Information to seek feedback from fleet operators, manufacturers, school officials, and energy producers on a broad range of fuel options that school bus sectors could use. EPA is planning a new funding opportunity under the Clean School Bus Program that will prioritize child safety, fiscal responsibility, and reliable buses worthy of tax dollars, while also providing school districts with consumer choice. To support the development of this new funding opportunity, EPA invites public comments on program oversight and alternative fuels for school buses.

The comment period will be open for 45 days following the publication of the RFI in the Federal Register.

Full RFI Text and Submission Resources

• Notice: Request for Information (pdf) (227 KB, published February 20, 2026)

Upcoming Public Webinar

EPA will also be hosting an informational webinar during which participants may also submit comments and questions. The webinar will be hosted on March 3, 2026. Further details will be provided here as they become available.

EPA Announces Path Forward to Revamp the Clean School Bus Program to Provide Safe, Affordable, Efficient Transportation for America’s Youth

Seeks Public Input to Reform the Program to Ensure Best Use of Taxpayer Dollars and Deliver Results for American Families

February 19, 2026

Contact Information

EPA Press Office (press@epa.gov)

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the path forward to revamp the Clean School Bus (CSB) Program to provide school districts with increased choice and affordable options for school buses. By doing so, EPA will strengthen oversight and compliance actions in a way that aligns with President Trump’s Day One executive orders and ensure hard-earned American tax dollars are being put to the best use possible. The updates to the program will help bring back American auto jobs and unleash American energy production—key pillars to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin’s Powering the Great American Comeback initiative.

Since 2021, the Biden- era program has forced unsafe and unreliable electric buses onto American schools. There are multiple well-documented examples of one particular bus manufacturer failing to deliver buses altogether despite preemptively receiving tens of millions of tax dollars from the CSB program. To fix these issues, the Trump EPA will seek public input on the availability, cost, and performance of alternative school bus fuels and technologies. This feedback will help reform the program to bring consumer choice back to schools and deliver results for American families, while still fulfilling congressional intent.

“As was the case with so many of the Biden-era programs, the Clean School Bus program has been a disaster of poor management and wasteful spending of taxpayer dollars. At the Trump EPA, we have zero tolerance for reckless spending. Today, EPA takes the next step to set the program straight,” said EPA Administrator Zeldin. “Americans can rest assured that moving forward, the program will be safe, effective, and use reliable forms of American energy.”

In line with the Trump EPA’s commitment to consumer choice, today the agency is issuing a Request for Information (RFI) to seek feedback from fleet operators, manufacturers, school officials, and energy producers on a broad range of fuel options that school bus sectors could use. These fuel options include biofuels, compressed natural gas, liquified natural gas, and hydrogen. While the law has always allowed for these fuel options, the Biden Administration intentionally limited their availability to push the use of government subsidized electric buses. By providing more options to school districts, EPA will ensure they can purchase the right types of school buses for their specific needs. EPA intends to use the information gathered from the RFI and lessons learned from previous funding rounds to revamp the CSB program for the 2026 grant funding round. The public can expect this next round of funding to prioritize child safety, fiscal responsibility, and reliable buses worthy of their tax dollars for American schools—aspects that have all been lacking in previous rounds under the Biden Administration.

Additionally, EPA will not be awarding funds as part of the 2024 CSB Rebate Program. EPA thanks applicants for their interest and encourages them to apply for the new grant program. The agency will provide more details on the 2026 grants and eligibility requirements in the near future through a Notice of Funding Opportunity. EPA is committed to ensuring the CSB program delivers clean air for all Americans and fulfills the agency’s core mission of protecting human health and the environment. Every taxpayer dollar spent through the CSB Program under the Trump EPA will strengthen school transportation reliability, invest in America’s children, and fulfill all statutory obligations.

EPA will hold a 45-day public comment period on the RFI, which will include an informational webinar on March 3, 2026, to help answer questions on the RFI. To comment on the RFI or register for the informational webinar, please visit: https://www.epa.gov/cleanschoolbus.

Background

In 2021, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act directed EPA to create the CSB Program and to fund vehicle replacement projects totaling $5 billion over five years (FY 2022-2026) for the replacement of existing school buses with clean school buses or zero-emission school buses, as well as some fueling infrastructure.

The Biden- Harris Administration disastrously gave out around $2.7 billion in funding under the CSB program with 90 percent going to electric school buses and the rest going to propane- fueled buses. Most notably, Lion Electric, a manufacturer of electric buses, went bankrupt in 2024. This was despite having received approximately $160 million directly in CSB funding, and with school districts using their own CSB awards to also purchase Lion Electric buses. To date, some buses remain undelivered and not adequately maintained due to Lion Electric’s action. EPA is not able to comment further on matters pertaining to ongoing litigation but is evaluating potential options once the bankruptcy proceedings conclude.

Under the Trump Administration, EPA has not given out any funding under the program. Under Administrator Zeldin’s leadership, EPA is committed to being exceptional stewards of taxpayer dollars. Since being confirmed as EPA Administrator, Administrator Zeldin has cancelled roughly $30 billion in wasteful grants and contracts across the agency.