Administration Funds Allocation by Trump Administration Halted by Federal Judge on FEMA
Court Blocks Trump Administration from Reallocating Billions in Disaster Mitigation Funds
In a significant legal victory, a federal court has granted a preliminary injunction against the Trump administration, preventing them from reallocating billions of dollars in disaster mitigation funds from the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program.
The lawsuit, filed by a coalition of 20 state attorneys general, alleges that the Trump administration violated federal law and the constitutional separation of powers by eradicating the BRIC program. The coalition includes Attorneys General from California, Wisconsin, Washington, Minnesota, Massachusetts, and others, reflecting widespread opposition to the program's termination.
The BRIC program, established in 2020, provides federal grants for hazard mitigation projects such as flood control, wildfire prevention, and resilient infrastructure. The program has been a lifeline for cities and states across the country, with some communities using grants to invest in ongoing disaster mitigation projects. Without BRIC, many-likely most-of these projects will either falter or fail.
U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns wrote that he is "not convinced" that Congress vested any discretion in the agency to reallocate funds from the BRIC account. His decision will, at least temporarily, prevent the Trump administration from clawing back about $4 billion in BRIC-related funds.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta, a co-plaintiff in the lawsuit, asserted that the Trump administration's actions endanger communities most vulnerable to natural disasters. Bonta stated that Stearns' ruling is a significant step forward against an administration that routinely flouts the rule of law.
The injunction preserves the funds specifically for BRIC’s original purpose and blocks any reallocation until the final judgment in the lawsuit. The court's decision affirms that states suing the administration are likely to succeed on their claims that the administration unlawfully sought to terminate and redirect these funds.
Bonta also noted that shuttering the BRIC program would not prevent waste, fraud, and abuse or improve government efficiency. Washington state Attorney General Nick Brown said in a press release that FEMA's termination of the BRIC program defies both law and logic.
The fight continues toward a final judicial determination. Bonta threatened to hold the Trump administration accountable for abandoning public safety, stating that the BRIC program has bipartisan support and is focused on protecting lives and livelihoods from natural disasters.
[1] CNN
[2] ABC News
[3] NBC News
[4] Politico
[5] The Hill
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