Setting the Record Straight
Our Response to Fake News
At Democracy Green, we remain committed to providing clean, safe drinking water to rural North Carolina communities. Our recent $20 million EPA grant for the Clean Water is Safe Water initiative is a critical step in replacing lead-contaminated pipes and restoring polluted wetlands—projects that will directly improve public health.
Unfortunately, a fake-news media outlet has published false and misleading claims in an attempt to discredit our work and jeopardize this life-saving initiative. These fabrications have already led to harassment against our organization and the project.
We refuse to be silenced. This is not about politics—it’s about clean water, health, and rural Americans.
Below, you’ll find our official response letter to U.S. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, addressing the misinformation and reaffirming our commitment to the communities we serve. We encourage our supporters, partners, and elected officials to stand with us and share the truth.
False Claims
1. "This project is a DEI or Clean Energy initiative."
2. "Replacing lead pipes costs only $4,700 per home."
3. "Democracy Green has no experience on any scale conducting water quality related construction projects."
4. "Democracy Green used $10 DIY Water testing kits."
5. "Democracy Green will manage total $20 million with small team."
6. "Democracy Green's leadership influenced the EPA's grant approval process.
The Truth
1. This project is solely focused on clean water infrastructure. It replaces identified lead-contaminated water pipes and restores a polluted wetland----both EPA-approved priorities. It has no connection to DEI or clean energy efforts.
2. The actual cost of replacing lead pipes is $25,000 per home, based on real invoices from real licensed contractors. The EPA reviewed and approved Democracy Green's budget based on industry-standards costs.
3. Democracy Green has a proven track record of successful water infrastructure projects, including post-disaster water remediation, emergency water-access programs, and environmental restoration efforts in North Carolina.
4. Democracy Green only uses state-certified and private-certified laboratories for water testing. Every test conducted in accordance with state and federal water quality regulations.
5. Democracy Green does not manage or disburse the grant funds. A third-party organization with extensive experience in federal grant administration handles all financial oversight. Any unused funds must be returned to the EPA.
6. Democracy Green's President of the Board, La'Meshia Whittington has never served on an US EPA or White House environmental justice board, Justice 40 initiatives or affiliated with TCTACs. Her only EPA-related role was an unpaid advisory position focused on national drinking water standards as a state-appointed official of water treatment operators. She had zero involvement in federal grant funding decisions.
March 6, 2025
The Honorable Lee Zeldin
Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20460
Cc:
The Honorable Kevin McOmber
Regional Administrator, EPA Region 4
Ms. Jeaneanne Gettle
Deputy Regional Administrator, EPA Region 4
Subject: Setting the Record Straight—False Attacks on Critical Clean Water Efforts
Dear Administrator Zeldin,
I write to address a series of outright fabrications published by the Washington Free Beacon, an obscure online publication attempting to make a name for itself through false reporting. Their misleading claims not only misrepresent Democracy Green’s work but also is an attempt to jeopardize a critical, EPA-approved project designed to bring clean drinking water to communities in need.
It is especially troubling that these falsehoods target a predominantly red district—one that turned out in great numbers to vote for President Donald J. Trump—where residents are simply seeking access to safe, lead-free drinking water. This is not a partisan issue. It is a public health necessity, and efforts to undermine it with misinformation do a grave disservice to the people who stand to benefit most.
To set the record straight:
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We are not a DEI or Clean Energy Initiative: The Free Beacon falsely claimed that this project is connected to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives or clean energy efforts. That is completely untrue. This grant is exclusively focused on replacing lead-contaminated water pipes and restoring a polluted wetland—both EPA priorities. There are no DEI-related initiatives or clean energy projects associated with this work in any way.
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Re-piping Costs Are Based on Real Market Data: The Free Beacon falsely claimed that replacing lead pipes costs only $4,700 per household. This is a fabrication with no basis in reality. In fact, Democracy Green has already completed similar projects, working with local plumbers, and we have the invoices to prove that the true cost, including materials, labor, and permitting, is approximately $25,000 per household before taxes. This exact figure is reflected in our EPA-approved budget, which allocates $12.8 million for 500 households—matching documented, real-world costs.
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Proven Experience, Not Theoretical Work: The claim that Democracy Green has no experience with re-piping or wetlands restoration is demonstrably false. Our organization has successfully executed water infrastructure projects in North Carolina, including emergency water support and remediation efforts after natural disasters. We own the wetland in question- no funds from the CCG Grant are being used for land acquisition but rather this project will restore an already contaminated creek that runs adjacent to some communities benefiting from the pipe replacement.
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Financial Oversight and Accountability: Democracy Green does not manage or disburse the grant funds. A respected third-party organization with extensive experience in government grant administration handles all financial oversight. Additionally, any unspent funds are returned to the EPA, ensuring full accountability and compliance.
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No Political Influence in Grant Approvals: The Free Beacon falsely claimed that our President, Professor La’Meshia Whittington, influenced EPA grant decisions. This is entirely untrue. While she is a nationally recognized expert, she has never served on any EPA or White House environmental justice board. Her only EPA-related role was an unpaid advisory position unrelated to environmental justice or grant funding, where she provided expertise on national drinking water standards as a state-appointed certifier of water treatment plant operators.
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Water Testing Claims Are False: The Free Beacon falsely elevated the claim that Democracy Green provided $10 DIY water testing kits. This is completely untrue. Democracy Green has only ever utilized state-certified and private-certified laboratories for water quality testing. This includes working with local Health and Human Services agencies and the Environmental Health Division. We have receipts and documentation confirming that all water testing conducted under our projects has met state and federal certification standards.
Democracy Green is not a political organization; we are practitioners of this work, with a track record of success in providing clean water solutions to underserved rural communities. Our focus is on infrastructure, public health, and workforce development—not political narratives.
Given the seriousness of these false claims and their potential to hinder life-saving public health efforts, we respectfully request your continued support for this critical, EPA-approved project. This initiative is making a tangible impact by providing safe drinking water, strengthening local infrastructure, and addressing environmental contamination in rural communities that need it most.
We urge the EPA to stand by the facts and the communities it was created to serve, rather than allowing misinformation from an unqualified digital tabloid to dictate policy decisions. The residents of this district—who, again, overwhelmingly supported President Trump in the last election—deserve clean drinking water and an infrastructure solution based on truth, not political gamesmanship.
We remain open to further discussion and are happy to provide any additional information that may be helpful in ensuring the success of this project. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you or your offices have any questions or would like to discuss this initiative further.
We appreciate your time and your commitment to advancing clean water solutions for underserved communities.
Sincerely,
Sanja Whittington
Executive Director
Democracy Green
Supporting Documents:
EPA Announcement Highlighting Overwhelming Bipartisan Support:
EPA Press Release: $20 Million Award for Clean Water & Safe Water Community Initiative Receives Bipartisan Support
Baseless Attack from a Bottom-Shelf Online Publication: Washington Free Beacon: Misleading Article on EPA Grant
The US EPA retains the original grant application with these materials. The US EPA reviewed and approved all documents before Democracy Green was awarded.