EPA’s School Bus Program Faces Oversight Gaps Amid Billions in Spending

Federal programs aimed at replacing diesel school buses with cleaner alternatives have received over $5 billion in funding, but key oversight and measurement practices remain incomplete, according to a report released by the U.S. Government Accountability Office on July 28. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which leads several of the programs, has not fully tracked how effectively the funds are translating into reduced emissions or operational buses on the road.

The Clean School Bus program and related initiatives have distributed grants and rebates to districts across the country to adopt electric, propane, and other non-diesel buses. While demand remains high and the EPA has pledged over $3 billion in awards between fiscal years 2022 and 2024, challenges remain. Recipients have faced difficulties deploying the buses, particularly due to delays in building out charging infrastructure needed for electric vehicles.

The GAO report found that although the EPA collects some performance data, it does not consistently gather full details on obstacles recipients face or whether the funded buses are successfully deployed. Additionally, the agency’s estimates of emission reductions are based on incomplete methods, which limits understanding of the environmental impact the programs are achieving.

The Department of Energy (DOE) also operates a separate grant program related to school bus electrification, leading to fragmented efforts and overlapping responsibilities. The report notes that while coordination between the EPA and DOE has improved, comprehensive assessment across all four federal programs is still lacking.

To improve accountability, the GAO issued two recommendations: that the EPA verify deployment of rebate-funded buses and collect timely data on barriers to implementation, and that it develop a more robust methodology to estimate emissions reductions. Both recommendations remain open, and the EPA has agreed to take action.

Article by multiple contributors, based upon information from a press release by the U.S. Government Accountability Office

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