A group of 20 states has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration for ending a major FEMA grant program that helps communities prepare for natural disasters.
The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Boston, argues that the administration illegally shut down the Building Resilient Infrastructures and Communities (BRIC) program, which was created to strengthen disaster prevention efforts.
According to the complaint, the closure of the BRIC program has forced many communities to delay or cancel important projects aimed at reducing damage from floods, storms, and other disasters. These projects had already cost millions in planning and preparation.
The BRIC program was started in 2018 and has helped fund nearly 2,000 projects across the US with about $4.5 billion. FEMA and Congress have long focused on funding disaster mitigation to save money and lives by preventing damage rather than only responding after disasters strike.
Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Neronha said the program has saved property, money, and lives over the past 30 years by helping communities prepare better.
The Trump administration ended the program in April, calling it “wasteful” and “politicized.” President Trump had earlier hinted at major FEMA changes, but after recent deadly floods in Texas, the administration said FEMA would be reformed rather than eliminated.
Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown called the cuts illegal and warned they put vulnerable communities at greater risk. The lawsuit also states that Congress never authorized ending the BRIC program or reducing FEMA’s capabilities.
The states accuse the administration of violating the law and the constitutional balance of power by shutting down the program without Congressional approval.
