&w=3840&q=100)
20 states sue FEMA over cancelled disaster resilience grant programme
The lawsuit contends President Donald Trump's administration acted illegally when it announced in April that it was ending the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities programme. FEMA cancelled some projects already in the works and refused to approve new ones despite funding from Congress.
"In the wake of devastating flooding in Texas and other states, it's clear just how critical federal resources are in helping states prepare for and respond to natural disasters," said Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell of Massachusetts, where the federal lawsuit was filed on Wednesday.
"By abruptly and unlawfully shutting down the Bric programme, this administration is abandoning states and local communities that rely on federal funding to protect their residents and, in the event of disaster, save lives." FEMA did not immediately respond Wednesday to a request for comment. It said in April that the program was "wasteful and ineffective" and "more concerned with political agendas than helping Americans affected by natural disasters".
The programme, established by a 2000 law, provides grants for a variety of disaster mitigation efforts, including levees to protect against floods, safe rooms to provide shelter from tornadoes, vegetation management to reduce damage from fires and seismic retrofitting to fortify buildings for earthquakes.
During his first term, Trump signed a law shoring up funding for disaster risk reduction efforts. The programme then got a USD 1 billion boost from an infrastructure law signed by former President Joe Biden. That law requires FEMA to make available at least USD 200 million annually for disaster mitigation grants for the 2022-2026 fiscal years, the lawsuit says.
The suit contends the Trump administration violated the constitutional separation of powers because Congress had not authorised the programme's demise. It also alleges the programme's termination was illegal because the decision was made while FEMA was under the leadership of an acting administrator who had not met the requirements to be in charge of the agency.
The lawsuit says communities in every state have benefited from federal disaster mitigation grants, which saved lives and spared homes, businesses, hospitals and schools from costly damage.
Some communities have already been affected by the decision to end the program.
Hillsborough, North Carolina, had been awarded nearly USD 7 million to relocate a wastewater pumping station out of a flood plain and make other water and sewer system improvements. But that hadn't happened yet when the remnants of Tropical Storm Chantal damaged the pumping station and forced it offline last week.
In rural Mount Pleasant, North Carolina, town officials had hoped to use more than USD 4 million from the BRIC program to improve stormwater drainage and safeguard a vulnerable electric system, thus protecting investments in a historic theatre and other businesses. While the community largely supports Trump, assistant town manager Erin Burris said people were blindsided by the lost funding they had spent years pursuing.
"I've had downtown property owners saying, What do we do?'" Burris said. "I've got engineering plans ready to go and I don't have the money to do it.
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Important topics and their relevance in UPSC CSE exam for July 20, 2025. If you missed the July 19, 2025, UPSC CSE exam key from the Indian Express, read it here. Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Mains Examination: General Studies-II, III: India and its neighbourhood- relations, Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment. What's the ongoing story: China on Saturday formally started the construction of the USD 167.8 billion dam over the Brahmaputra river in Tibet, closer to the Indian border in Arunachal Pradesh. Key Points to Ponder: • Read about the origin and flow of the Brahmaputra (Yarlung Tsangpo or Zangbo) river. • What are lower riparian states? • What is the Yarlung Tsangpo project? 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(UPSC CSE 2018) Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Mains Examination: General Studies-II, III: Government policies and interventions, Environment, Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment. What's the ongoing story: The All India Deep Sea Fishers' Association has come out against the Union Fisheries Ministry's decision to allow large vessels to operate in deep-sea areas beyond India's sovereign maritime zone. Key Points to Ponder: • Read about the blue economy policy of the Union government. • What is the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)? • What are the key differences between small-scale and large-scale fishing practices? • What is sustainable fishing? • Why is sustainable fishing important for marine biodiversity and coastal livelihoods? • What are the concerns raised by small-scale fishing communities regarding the deep-sea vessels? • What can be the potential ecological and economic implications of allowing large vessels in India's EEZ? • The Government of India's Blue Economy policy aims to harness ocean resources for economic growth. What are the challenges and opportunities of the Government of India's Blue Economy policy? 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Governor case, what specifically has the Supreme Court said about the president's power? • What are judicial encroachment and judicial overreach? • Why is the absence of a definitive timeline in Article 200 seen as problematic in Centre-State relations? • How do constitutional provisions aim to balance the Governor's formal authority with the democratic functioning of the elected state government? Key Takeaways: • In the Presidential reference made under Article 143(1) of the Constitution, President Murmu has posed 14 questions over the top court's April 8 verdict. • The President sought to know whether the actions of the Governors and President are justiciable and whether such timelines can be imposed on them in the absence of any such provision in the Constitution. • The reference pointed out that 'there are conflicting judgments of the Supreme Court as to whether the assent of the President of India under Article 201 of the Constitution of India is justiciable or not'. Under Article 145 (3), when the President makes a reference for the court's opinion, it is placed before a five-judge bench. • On April 8, the Supreme Court had set a timeline for Governors to act on pending Bills, and for the first time, prescribed that the President should take a decision on the Bills, reserved for consideration by the Governor, within three months from the date on which such reference is received. Under Article 201 of the Constitution, no timeframe has been set for a President's decision. • The SC had said that 'in case of any delay beyond this period, appropriate reasons would have to be recorded and conveyed' to the state concerned. • In her reference to the SC, President Murmu sought to know: 'Is the exercise of constitutional discretion by the President under Article 201 of the Constitution of India justiciable? In the absence of a constitutionally prescribed timeline and the manner of exercise of powers by the President, can timelines be imposed and the manner of exercise be prescribed through judicial orders for the exercise of discretion by the President under Article 201 of the Constitution of India?' • 'Is the exercise of constitutional discretion by the Governor under Article 200 of the Constitution of India justiciable? Is Article 361 of the Constitution of India an absolute bar to judicial review in relation to the actions of a Governor under Article 200 of the Constitution of India? In the absence of a constitutionally prescribed time limit, and the manner of exercise of powers by the Governor, can timelines be imposed and the manner of exercise be prescribed through judicial orders for the exercise of all powers under Article 200 of the Constitution of India by the Governor?' • The President also asked: 'Can the exercise of constitutional powers and the orders of/by the President / Governor be substituted in any manner under Article 142 of the Constitution of India?' Do You Know: • The Constitution extended the provision of SC's advisory jurisdiction in the Government of India Act, 1935 to seek the opinion of the Federal Court on questions of law to questions of fact, including certain hypotheticals. • A question under Article 143 may be referred if it 'has arisen, or is likely to arise', and 'which is of such a nature and of such public importance that it is expedient to obtain the opinion of the Supreme Court'. • Article 145(3) requires any such reference to be heard by five judges, after which the SC returns the reference to the President with the majority opinion. • Under the Constitution, the President acts on the aid and advice of the Cabinet. The advisory jurisdiction allows her the means to seek independent advice to act on certain constitutional matters. It is a power that the President has invoked on at least 15 occasions since 1950. • Article 143(1) states the court 'may, after such hearing as it thinks fit, report to the President its opinion thereon'. The word 'may' indicates that it is the court's prerogative to answer the reference. The SC has so far returned at least two references without answering. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Explained: SC to hear President's reference to it on timeline to assent to bills 📍The President's reference 📍Before Murmu, other Presidents and their references to SC 📍Governor vs. State: Supreme Court draws the line Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme: (3) Which one of the following suggested that the Governor should be an eminent person from outside the State and should be a detached figure without intense political links or should not have taken part in politics in the recent past? (UPSC CSE 2019) (a) First Administrative Reforms Commission (1966) (b) Rajamannar Committee (1969) (c) Sarkaria Commission (1983) (d) National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution (2000) (4) Which of the following are the discretionary powers given to the Governor of a State? (UPSC CSE 2014) 1. Sending a report to the President of India for imposing the President's rule 2. Appointing the Ministers 3. Reserving certain bills passed by the State Legislature for consideration of the President of India 4. Making the rules to conduct the business of the State Government Select the correct answer using the code given below (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 1 and 3 only (c) 2, 3 and 4 only (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4 (5) Consider the following statements: (UPSC CSE 2010) 1. In appellate jurisdiction, the Supreme Court has exclusive power to adjudicate upon disputes involving elections of the President and the Vice President. 2. In advisory jurisdiction, the President has the power to seek an opinion from the apex court under Article 143 of the Constitution 3. In original jurisdiction, the Supreme Court hears appeals from lower courts. Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 only (c) 3 only (d) 2 and 3 only Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Indian Polity and Governance-Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc. Main Examination: General Studies-I, II: Indian history, Issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of powers. What's the ongoing story: Nikhila Henry writes-'The governments of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala have in the past called the three-language formula proposed by the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020, a covert move to impose Hindi on the southern states. They allege that the Centre's Hindi push goes against the idea of a federal polity. While the debate goes on, with the southern states often pitted as anti-Hindi, away from the noise of political debates, the language and its speakers have had a long history in the region.' Key Points to Ponder: • Read about the Dakshin Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha. • How did the Dakshin Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha contribute to the spread of Hindi in southern India? • India speaks in many languages — but what does the Constitution say about it? • What are the constitutional provisions related to Hindi? • Is Hindi India's national language? How widely is Hindi spoken in India? • What role has the media played in India's linguistic integration? • How do regional literature and translation initiatives foster linguistic harmony in a multilingual country like India? • How did Mahatma Gandhi contribute to the spread of Hindi in South India? • What is the 'three-language formula'? • What are the benefits and challenges of implementing a three-language formula? Key Takeaways: • 'Scholars say Hindi actively began to make its presence felt in the South around the Independence movement, with Mahatma Gandhi establishing the first Dakshin Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha in Madras (now Chennai) in 1918. The objective was to teach Hindi to a non-Hindi-speaking populace as a link language for the freedom movement.' • 'Learning Hindi was one way of feeling that one is participating in the Indian national freedom movement,' says Prof J Atmaram of the University of Hyderabad's Hindi Department. • 'In 1922, the Dakshin Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha conducted its first preliminary exam to test basic Hindi proficiency. The first undergraduate examination, Rashtrabhasha Visharad, was conducted in 1931. In the other southern states where the Sabha had its regional centres — Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Kochi and Gulbarga — Hindi learning gained in popularity. 'For example, Andhra Pradesh acted as a corridor between Hindi and other southern languages. The state welcomed Hindi learning, be it in Hyderabad or Vijayawada,' says Atmaram.' • 'In Karnataka and Kerala too, there wasn't much opposition to Hindi. 'Tucked away in Ernakulam south stands the Dakshin Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha, active since the 1930s,' he said' • 'Hindi grew more organically with the advent of mass media — radio and TV. 'At radio stations in Madras and Trichy, Hindi programming, along with regional languages, continued in independent India,' said Atmaram.' • 'By the 1970s, Doordarshan had reached homes in the South with its Satellite Instruction Television Experiment (SITE). The experiment, which began in 1975, focused on Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, where instructional programming with shows dedicated to agriculture and education would have one visual component and two language components. For instance, a person in Andhra watching one of these programmes could opt to do so in Telugu. 'But while instructional programming had a language option, mass media programming, including news and entertainment which were aired through SITE, were mainly in Hindi,' says Prof B P Sanjay, who worked on SITE and was former director of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication.' • 'In the 1970s and '80s, another phenomenon contributed to the spread of Hindi — magazines published in Hindi. For instance, Dakshinanchal Hindi Samiti translated Bhakti literature into southern languages and vice versa.' • 'These magazines gave writing in Hindi a push. The focus was on schooling students in Hindi and the NEP of 1968 paved the way with its recommendation of a three-language policy which foregrounded Hindi and English along with the regional languages. Except for Tamil Nadu, which followed the two-language (English and Tamil) policy in government- and aided-schools, all other southern Indian states had adopted the three-language policy.' Do You Know: • Article 351 of the constitution of India says 'It shall be the duty of the Union to promote the spread of the Hindi language, to develop it so that it may serve as a medium of expression for all the elements of the composite culture of India'. • However, the provision says, this must be done 'without interfering with its genius, the forms, style and expressions used in Hindustani and in the other languages of India specified in the Eighth Schedule'. • The 2011 linguistic census accounts for 121 mother tongues, including 22 languages listed in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution. Hindi is the most widely spoken, with 52.8 crore individuals, or 43.6% of the population, declaring it as their mother tongue. The next highest is Bengali, the mother tongue for 9.7 crores (8%) — less than one-fifth of Hindi's count. • In terms of the number of people who know Hindi, the count crosses more than half the country. Nearly 13.9 crore (over 11%) reported Hindi as their second language, which makes it either the mother tongue or second language for nearly 55% of the population. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍2-language policy or 3?: After Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra, Karnataka wades into debate 📍UPSC Issue at a Glance | India's Linguistic Landscape: From constitutional safeguards to endangered languages 📍Knowledge Nugget: What makes Tamil Nadu's recent protest against NEP relevant for UPSC Exam? UPSC Prelims Practice Question Covering similar theme: (6) With reference to the Three-Language Formula in India, consider the following statements: 1. The Three-Language Formula was first introduced in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. 2. Tamil Nadu has historically opposed the Three-Language Formula and follows a Two-Language policy. 3. The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 mandates the learning of Hindi as a compulsory language in all states. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2, and 3 Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Main Examination: General Studies-II, III: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India's interests, Effects of liberalisation on the economy. What's the ongoing story: In the 12th round of negotiations that concluded earlier this month, India and the European Union managed to close the digital trade chapter 'in principle' and made substantial progress on the text dealing with 'services and investment', marking a significant step forward in concluding the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) that both sides aim to sign by the end of this year. Key Points to Ponder: • Read about the European Union (EU) — History, Member countries. • India-EU bilateral relations—Know the background • What are the key areas of cooperation between India and the EU? • What are the contentious issues between India and the EU? • How have India-EU trade negotiations progressed since 2007? What are the key hurdles in finalising India-EU free trade agreement? • What is the significance of the India-Europe partnership? • How can India and Europe enhance their security and defense cooperation in the wake of shifting U.S. policies? • Amid global geopolitical fragmentation, strained transatlantic ties, and the European de-risking strategy towards China, how the India-EU FTA present an attractive opportunity for the EU? Key Takeaways: • The digital trade chapter of the FTA discussions covers crucial segments such as cross-border data flows, where trade partners decide on commitments to regulate movement of data across borders, which is important for e-commerce and global services. • To be sure, the textual positions taken by both sides have not yet been made public. However, bridging the regulatory gap in services between India and the EU would open the door for the Indian services sector to integrate more deeply, scale up, and attract greater investment. This is important since the EU is the largest investor globally, and services represent over 70 per cent of the EU's foreign direct investment (FDI) abroad. • Regulations on cross-border data flows are among the most contentious topics in trade agreements with the Western countries, especially with the rise of artificial intelligence (AI). Effective AI systems — seen as the cornerstone of the Fourth Industrial Revolution — require diverse datasets from multiple countries. This has sparked a fierce race for data among Silicon Valley firms. • India has traditionally resisted altering its stance on data localisation under any plurilateral agreements at the World Trade Organization (WTO) to preserve policy space. It has also tightened norms, notably in April 2018, when the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) made it mandatory for payment system providers such as Mastercard and Visa to store payment data of Indian residents within the country. • The UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) also highlighted the potential benefits of data localisation, including encouragement to foreign investment in domestic digital infrastructure, enabling enforcement of national laws, as well as safeguarding privacy and cyber sovereignty. Countries such as Vietnam and the Philippines have implemented such measures to promote local capabilities and protect infant industries. • The EU status report on the trade talks also stated that negotiators made substantial progress on the investment text. The negotiators had made very good progress on rules for state-to-state mediation, it added. Movement on dispute settlement is significant since it suggests a breakthrough on long-standing EU concerns regarding investment protection in India. Do You Know: • According to the EU, The European Union is a group of 27 countries in Europe. These countries came together to make things better, easier and safer for people. They agreed to work together and help each other. • India established diplomatic relations with the European Economic Community — the first pillar of the future European Union — back in 1962. The Joint Political Statement signed in 1993 and the Cooperation Agreement of 1994 paved the way for the strengthening of ties between India and Europe. 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What is your opinion about this statement? Give reasons and examples to support your answer. ( UPSC CSE 2023) Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – Indian Express UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for July 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at Roshni Yadav is a Deputy Copy Editor with The Indian Express. She is an alumna of the University of Delhi and Jawaharlal Nehru University, where she pursued her graduation and post-graduation in Political Science. She has over five years of work experience in ed-tech and media. At The Indian Express, she writes for the UPSC section. Her interests lie in national and international affairs, governance, economy, and social issues. You can contact her via email: ... Read More
