Latest news with #BRIC-funded
Newsweek
06-08-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
Donald Trump Suffers Legal Loss Over Billions of FEMA Funds
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A federal judge has temporarily halted the Trump administration's plan to reallocate more than $4 billion in federal disaster preparedness funds, marking a legal victory for 20 states that challenged the move. U.S. District Judge Richard Stearns of Massachusetts issued a preliminary injunction Tuesday, August 5, preventing the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) from diverting money allocated to its Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program. The program funds projects designed to strengthen infrastructure against natural disasters. Why It Matters The ruling temporarily safeguards $4 billion in FEMA funds that support 2,000+ projects nationwide. BRIC is central to helping states and cities prepare for floods, wildfires, hurricanes, and other disasters that are becoming more frequent and severe. The program finances major infrastructure improvements—such as coastal flood defenses, stormwater and levee upgrades, sewage protection systems, and critical drainage projects. Local officials warn that without these funds, communities—particularly those in flood-prone or economically vulnerable regions—face delays or cancellations of safety projects leaving those areas facing greater risks and higher future recovery costs. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) building is seen on May 15, 2025 in Washington, D.C. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) building is seen on May 15, 2025 in Washington, To Know What is the BRIC program? The BRIC program has been a cornerstone of America's strategy to build long-term resilience. From flood barriers to sewage overhaul and levee upgrades, BRIC has funded essential improvements that save lives, reduce recovery costs, and strengthen community preparedness. Examples of BRIC-funded mitigation projects include: Bridgeport, Connecticut : $42 million coastal flood defense system with walls and elevated streets; funding cuts risk years of safety planning. : $42 million coastal flood defense system with walls and elevated streets; funding cuts risk years of safety planning. Austin, Texas : ~$50 million stormwater and levee upgrades near key energy and wastewater facilities; grant cancellation jeopardizes regional flood protection. : ~$50 million stormwater and levee upgrades near key energy and wastewater facilities; grant cancellation jeopardizes regional flood protection. Detroit, Michigan : Sewage system improvements shielding 600+ homes in vulnerable Jefferson Chalmers neighborhood; halted BRIC support threatens ongoing flood mitigation. : Sewage system improvements shielding 600+ homes in vulnerable Jefferson Chalmers neighborhood; halted BRIC support threatens ongoing flood mitigation. Mount Pleasant, North Carolina : $4 million stormwater management project for flood-prone areas paused after funding freeze. : $4 million stormwater management project for flood-prone areas paused after funding freeze. Nationwide Projects: Typical BRIC rounds fund 53 projects (~$796 million total) for disaster resilience across multiple states, including CA, NY, WA, and NC. FEMA stated in a June 2018 fact sheet that: "Natural hazard mitigation saves $6 on average for every $1 spent on federal mitigation grants." making these funds essential to public safety and long-term resilience. States Challenge FEMA Decision The lawsuit was brought in July 2025, by 20 Democratic-led states, including Washington, Massachusetts, California, and New York, as well as Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro in his official capacity. The plaintiffs argue that FEMA acted unlawfully when it announced it was ending BRIC and redirecting more than $4 billion in unspent funds to other federal accounts without congressional approval. With projects in jeopardy following termination of the BRIC program, local leaders and state attorneys general have emphasized the real-world consequences facing flood-prone and climate-vulnerable areas. Judge's Reasoning In his order, U.S. District Judge Richard Stearns of Massachusetts found that FEMA had taken, "affirmative steps" to implement the program's termination, including canceling funding opportunities and notifying states that unobligated funds would no longer be available. The judge noted that FEMA's monthly report to Congress in June showed a $4.07 billion reduction in BRIC funds, labeled a "reversal" of prior set-asides. The court concluded that this presented an imminent threat of harm to states that rely on BRIC funding for mitigation projects, such as stormwater management and the relocation of buildings in flood-prone areas. "The funds, if spent on other purposes, will be lost forever," Stearns wrote, adding that there is "an inherent public interest in ensuring that the government follows the law." FEMA's Position According to reporting by Reduceflooding, citing an April 4, 2025, press release—which has since been removed from FEMA's website—the BRIC program was described as, "yet another example of a wasteful and ineffective FEMA program." It accused the program of being, "more concerned with political agendas than helping Americans affected by natural disasters." However, David Richardson, FEMA's acting administrator, stated in the court filing that the BRIC program had not officially ended and that no grants had been canceled as of July. But Judge Stearns found these assurances inconsistent with FEMA's actions, concluding that the program's termination appeared to be a preordained outcome. According to the states' lawsuit, more than 2,000 approved resilience projects could be jeopardized if BRIC funding were diverted. These include initiatives like California's $21 million flood prevention project in Sacramento and New York City's $50 million project to address rising sea levels and extreme heat. Broader Context The Trump administration has sought to reallocate funds across several federal agencies, including FEMA. While it has recently downplayed earlier statements about eliminating FEMA entirely, officials have described efforts to reform and streamline the agency. What People Are Saying David Richardson, FEMA's acting administrator, stated: "The BRIC program provides technical and financial assistance to States and local governments for cost-effective pre-disaster hazard mitigation measures that reduce injuries, loss of life, and damage and destruction of property," adding that: "The Secretary of Homeland Security [Kristi Noem] has not made a final decision to end the BRIC program," and "no grants have yet been canceled." U.S. District Judge Richard Stearns of Massachusetts wrote in his 15-page ruling, August 5: "The BRIC program is designed to protect against natural disasters and save lives. The potential hardship to the government, in contrast, is minimal." He emphasized that " … the order maintains the status quo while the court considers the merits of the lawsuit." California Attorney General, Rob Bonta, one of the lead plaintiffs, said in a statement, July 16: "The president keeps breaking the law, and we keep holding him accountable in court. Shuttering this program would do nothing to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse or improve government efficiency. This is a program with bipartisan support that is focused on protecting lives and livelihoods from flooding, wildfires, earthquakes, and other natural disasters." What Happens Next With this ruling, the BRIC program—created in 2019 to support infrastructure resilience projects nationwide—remains funded while legal proceedings continue. Judge Stearns' order does not immediately release funds to states but prevents FEMA from spending them on other programs, while leaving open the possibility for FEMA to request emergency access to the funds if a major disaster occurs during the injunction period. The order is intended to preserve the contested funds until the court issues a final decision on whether the administration had the legal authority to dismantle BRIC.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
FEMA cuts natural disaster grants; Portsmouth loses $24M, Virginia Beach spared
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has canceled a popular grant program that previously awarded millions of dollars for Hampton Roads projects meant to protect against natural disasters. On the chopping block is a $24.2 million award slated for the Lake Meade Dam, a drinking water reservoir operated by Portsmouth. FEMA announced this month it will cut the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program, or BRIC. Under the Biden administration, $1 billion was made available for BRIC over five years through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and FEMA reports $133 million to date has been provided for about 450 project applications across the country. FEMA announced all applications from 2020-2023 have been canceled, and any funds not distributed to cities will go back to the Disaster Relief Fund or the U.S. Treasury. But not every BRIC-funded Hampton Roads project will lose out. A $25 million grant for Virginia Beach's Eastern Shore Drive Drainage Project was already allocated and city officials said the project was spared. Funding through the BRIC program was allocated to cities for hazard mitigation activities or projects that promoted climate adaptation and resilience, and the award required a funding match from the awarded communities. In the cancellation announcement, FEMA called the BRIC program 'wasteful and ineffective' and stated it was 'more concerned with political agendas than helping Americans affected by natural disasters.' The defunded Portsmouth project is the biggest blow to the region. The funding was supposed to help enhance protection and stabilization of the Lake Meade Dam, located in Suffolk. Portsmouth maintains the dam, which serves as a critical reservoir for drinking water. The project would strengthen the dam, upgrade spillways and retrofit the reservoir to prevent overtopping during extreme precipitation, when water spills over the top of a dam. The project would help protect 80 residential properties and about 30 businesses within the dam break inundation zone. A Portsmouth spokesperson did not respond by Tuesday afternoon to questions about the grant. The Hampton Roads Planning District Commission, a regional organization representing 17 local governments in Hampton Roads, also had BRIC funding cut. Matt Klepeisz, communications administrator for the HRPDC, said about $200,000 had been dedicated to updating the Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan. The plan, updated every five years, recommends specific actions to protect residents, businesses and development from environmental hazards that pose the greatest risk. Those risks include hurricanes and flooding. Klepeisz said the team has applied to other funding opportunities to support the updates. U.S. Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine joined Reps. Bobby Scott and Jennifer McClellan in writing a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem about the cuts to Virginia projects, specifically noting the loss of money for the Portsmouth project as well as a $12 million grant for improvements to the Richmond Water Treatment Facility. 'The potential revocation of existing BRIC awards is an unanticipated shock to Virginia localities that have budgeted, planned and in some cases begun work on these crucial projects,' the Democrats' letter reads. In Virginia Beach, about $25.1 million was awarded in 2021 to help pay for improvements done through the Eastern Shore Drive Drainage Project, and the city will match the grant with about $10.7 million. In 2023, the City Council voted to approve the ordinance that would accept the funding. The awarded funding in Virginia Beach is planned to be used in the first stage of the multiphase drainage project. The project will include drainage improvements, the addition of large stormwater pump stations, an automated tide gate and the deepening and widening of the Cape Henry Canal to help reduce flooding in the Shore Drive area of the city. According to the city, the improvements would protect neighborhoods of extreme rain events, including 614 properties and 'community lifeline' facilities. Virginia Beach said in a statement officials were aware of the potential cuts, but funding for the Shore Drive improvements likely will not be affected. A FEMA dashboard for BRIC projects shows the money was already obligated. 'Our FEMA liaisons have communicated that they do not foresee the City being at risk of losing the grant funds for this flood protection project,' a city statement reads. The BRIC cuts are the latest federal grant cancellation to hit a climate resiliency project in Hampton Roads. Hampton is expected to lose out on $20 million after Environmental Protection Agency grants to address flooding were targeted for cancellation. In a time where flood infrastructure projects are increasingly expensive to execute, federal funding is an avenue that many cities take to fight against negative impacts of climate change. The total cost of the Flood Protection Program in Virginia Beach has increased to more than $1 billion as the result of hikes in material and labor. Meanwhile, Hampton Roads has several large-scale construction projects underway leading to a short supply of contractors and heftier contract prices. Eliza Noe,
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
FEMA cuts natural disaster grants; Portsmouth loses $24M, Virginia Beach spared
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has canceled a popular grant program that previously awarded millions of dollars for Hampton Roads projects meant to protect against natural disasters. On the chopping block is a $24.2 million award slated for the Lake Meade Dam, a drinking water reservoir operated by Portsmouth. FEMA announced this month it will cut the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program, or BRIC. Under the Biden administration, $1 billion was made available for BRIC over five years through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and FEMA reports $133 million to date has been provided for about 450 project applications across the country. FEMA announced all applications from 2020-2023 have been canceled, and any funds not distributed to cities will go back to the Disaster Relief Fund or the U.S. Treasury. But not every BRIC-funded Hampton Roads project will lose out. A $25 million grant for Virginia Beach's Eastern Shore Drive Drainage Project was already allocated and city officials said the project was spared. Funding through the BRIC program was allocated to cities for hazard mitigation activities or projects that promoted climate adaptation and resilience, and the award required a funding match from the awarded communities. In the cancellation announcement, FEMA called the BRIC program 'wasteful and ineffective' and stated it was 'more concerned with political agendas than helping Americans affected by natural disasters.' The defunded Portsmouth project is the biggest blow to the region. The funding was supposed to help enhance protection and stabilization of the Lake Meade Dam, located in Suffolk. Portsmouth maintains the dam, which serves as a critical reservoir for drinking water. The project would strengthen the dam, upgrade spillways and retrofit the reservoir to prevent overtopping during extreme precipitation, when water spills over the top of a dam. The project would help protect 80 residential properties and about 30 businesses within the dam break inundation zone. A Portsmouth spokesperson did not respond by Tuesday afternoon to questions about the grant. The Hampton Roads Planning District Commission, a regional organization representing 17 local governments in Hampton Roads, also had BRIC funding cut. Matt Klepeisz, communications administrator for the HRPDC, said about $200,000 had been dedicated to updating the Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan. The plan, updated every five years, recommends specific actions to protect residents, businesses and development from environmental hazards that pose the greatest risk. Those risks include hurricanes and flooding. Klepeisz said the team has applied to other funding opportunities to support the updates. U.S. Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine joined Reps. Bobby Scott and Jennifer McClellan in writing a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem about the cuts to Virginia projects, specifically noting the loss of money for the Portsmouth project as well as a $12 million grant for improvements to the Richmond Water Treatment Facility. 'The potential revocation of existing BRIC awards is an unanticipated shock to Virginia localities that have budgeted, planned and in some cases begun work on these crucial projects,' the Democrats' letter reads. In Virginia Beach, about $25.1 million was awarded in 2021 to help pay for improvements done through the Eastern Shore Drive Drainage Project, and the city will match the grant with about $10.7 million. In 2023, the City Council voted to approve the ordinance that would accept the funding. The awarded funding in Virginia Beach is planned to be used in the first stage of the multiphase drainage project. The project will include drainage improvements, the addition of large stormwater pump stations, an automated tide gate and the deepening and widening of the Cape Henry Canal to help reduce flooding in the Shore Drive area of the city. According to the city, the improvements would protect neighborhoods of extreme rain events, including 614 properties and 'community lifeline' facilities. Virginia Beach said in a statement officials were aware of the potential cuts, but funding for the Shore Drive improvements likely will not be affected. A FEMA dashboard for BRIC projects shows the money was already obligated. 'Our FEMA liaisons have communicated that they do not foresee the City being at risk of losing the grant funds for this flood protection project,' a city statement reads. The BRIC cuts are the latest federal grant cancellation to hit a climate resiliency project in Hampton Roads. Hampton is expected to lose out on $20 million after Environmental Protection Agency grants to address flooding were targeted for cancellation. In a time where flood infrastructure projects are increasingly expensive to execute, federal funding is an avenue that many cities take to fight against negative impacts of climate change. The total cost of the Flood Protection Program in Virginia Beach has increased to more than $1 billion as the result of hikes in material and labor. Meanwhile, Hampton Roads has several large-scale construction projects underway leading to a short supply of contractors and heftier contract prices. Eliza Noe,
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bresnahan: FEMA should restore program funding 21 flood buyouts in Scranton
Republican U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan contradicted the Trump administration's contention that a certain Federal Emergency Management Agency funding program is wasteful and advocated for restoration of $2.5 million for flood buyouts in Scranton. On April 4, FEMA announced its ending of the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program and canceling of all applications from fiscal years 2020-2023. Calling the program 'wasteful and ineffective,' FEMA said in a press release posted online that BRIC funds not yet distributed will be immediately returned either to the Disaster Relief Fund or the U.S. Treasury. On Tuesday, Scranton Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti issued a letter to Bresnahan, whose district includes Scranton, as well as to Republican U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick and Democratic U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, to advocate in Congress for reinstating and preserving BRIC or an equivalent funding source. Ending BRIC 'will have a direct and detrimental impact on our city's ability to mitigate flood risks, modernize infrastructure, and protect residents in vulnerable neighborhoods,' Cognetti said in her letter to the legislators. The city had been working on BRIC-funded buyouts of 18 homes rendered uninhabitable in flash flooding of Sept. 9, 2023, and three vacant lots also deluged. Those properties are on North Merrifield Avenue and Leggett, Mary and Jackson streets. The city intended to pay for the $3.4 million total buyout cost using $2.5 million of BRIC grant funding and $849,000 of city funds, as the city's portion was a 25% contribution. On Wednesday, Bresnahan, of Dallas Twp., sent a letter to FEMA expressing his opposition to the canceling of BRIC, noting the program began in 2018 during President Donald Trump's first term. Bresnahan noted FEMA's website described BRIC as a shift away from reactive spending of federal dollars on disasters to proactive investments. Ending BRIC now leaves Scranton 'holding the bag' to come up with $2.5 million to complete the buyouts, according to Bresnahan's letter, which cites in a footnote a Times-Tribune article reporting on Cognetti's letter. 'I am writing to express my opposition to FEMA's recent announcement it would cancel the BRIC program … this decision is detrimental to my constituents, and I strongly urge you to reverse this decision,' Bresnahan's letter said. 'This program is a hand-up, not a hand-out, to at-risk communities who have suffered catastrophic weather events. This includes my district and Northeastern Pennsylvania.' The 8th Congressional District includes all of Lackawanna, Wayne and Pike and parts of Luzerne and Monroe counties. Bresnahan's letter continued: 'Without the support from the BRIC program, the city will be forced to come up with an additional $2.5 million in funding in order to create floodplain restoration and infrastructure, which is important to city public safety and future cost savings. … In cases where communities cannot bear the full cost of property purchases, programs like BRIC are not wasteful, but well within the purview of federal coordination of disaster relief efforts.' FEMA's announcement said ending BRIC will help ensure that grant funding aligns with Trump's executive orders and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's direction 'and best support states and local communities in disaster planning, response and recovery.' Last summer, the city's BRIC application for the 21 buyouts passed a key step when FEMA deemed it eligible for funding. The city has since been working on the buyout plan, which calls for acquiring and demolishing the 18 houses that became uninhabitable from the flooding and three vacant adjoining lots. The houses include nine on North Merrifield Avenue and one on Jackson Street, all in the Keyser Valley area; and six on Leggett Street and two on Mary Street, all in North Scranton. The city previously sought similar FEMA funding in 2021 to buy some flood-prone homes on North Merrifield Avenue but was unsuccessful. On Sept. 9, 2023, a deluge that dropped 6 inches of localized rain in a few hours overwhelmed creeks, roads, motorists and homeowners. The storm claimed the lives of a couple who got trapped in their car in the tunnel on Shady Lane Road in South Abington Twp. by rushing runoff from Summit Lake Creek. Storm damage in the area ranged from washed-out, undermined roads in the Notch and North Scranton to flooding of homes in the Keyser Valley. Scranton firefighters from Rescue 1 arrive in a boat Saturday at Jackson Street and South Merrifield Avenue with a woman rescued from a flooded home on Sept. 9, 2023. (TIMES-TRIBUNE / FILE PHOTO) CHRISTOPHER DOLAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Scranton firefighters from Rescue 1 arrive in a boat at Jackson Street and South Merrifield Avenue in West Scranton with a woman rescued from a flooded home on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023.A pickup truck flipped onto its roof by flood waters on Sept. 9, 2023 on Leggett Street in Scranton. Photo taken Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023. (TIMES-TRIBUNE / FILE PHOTO) In July, FEMA announced $1 billion in funding for 656 total projects nationwide for the 2023 BRIC program of grants to help communities better prepare for natural disasters. The city also had another BRIC grant of $75,000 in the works that would have allowed the city to hire a consultant to update building codes related to flooding and other hazardous events and train staff members on those updates. * A home impacted by flooding at 120 N. Merrifield Avenue in Scranton. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO) * A home impacted by flooding at 207 N. Merrifield Avenue in Scranton. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO) * A home impacted by flooding at 120 N. Merrifield Avenue in Scranton. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO) * A homes impacted by flooding at 209 N. Merrifield Avenue in Scranton. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO) * A homes impacted by flooding at 121 N. Merrifield Avenue in Scranton. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO) * Homes impacted by flooding at 120 and 122 N. Merrifield Avenue in Scranton. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO) * A home impacted by flooding at 122 N. Merrifield Avenue in Scranton. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO) * Homes impacted by flooding at 120 and 122 N. Merrifield Avenue in Scranton. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO) Show Caption 1 of 8 A home impacted by flooding at 120 N. Merrifield Avenue in Scranton. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO) Expand
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Scranton: FEMA funding cut erases $2.5M for 21 flood buyouts in city
SCRANTON — The Trump administration's elimination of a Federal Emergency Management Administration funding program translates to the city losing $2.5 million for buyouts of 21 flood-prone properties that were swamped by flash floods in 2023, according to Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti. On Friday, FEMA announced its ending of the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program and canceling all applications from fiscal years 2020-2023. Calling the program 'wasteful and ineffective,' FEMA said in a press release posted online that BRIC funds not yet distributed will be immediately returned either to the Disaster Relief Fund or the U.S. Treasury. * A homes impacted by flooding at 121 N. Merrifield Avenue in Scranton. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO) * Homes impacted by flooding at 120 and 122 N. Merrifield Avenue in Scranton. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO) * A homes impacted by flooding at 209 N. Merrifield Avenue in Scranton. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO) * A home impacted by flooding at 207 N. Merrifield Avenue in Scranton. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO) * A home impacted by flooding at 120 N. Merrifield Avenue in Scranton. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO) * A home impacted by flooding at 120 N. Merrifield Avenue in Scranton. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO) * Homes impacted by flooding at 120 and 122 N. Merrifield Avenue in Scranton. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO) Show Caption 1 of 7 A homes impacted by flooding at 121 N. Merrifield Avenue in Scranton. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO) Expand Cognetti issued a letter Tuesday to Republican U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick, Democratic U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, and Republican U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan of Dallas, whose district includes Scranton, to advocate in Congress for reinstating and preserving BRIC or an equivalent funding source. Ending BRIC 'will have a direct and detrimental impact on our city's ability to mitigate flood risks, modernize infrastructure, and protect residents in vulnerable neighborhoods,' Cognetti said in her letter to the legislators. The city has been working on BRIC-funded buyouts of 18 homes rendered uninhabitable in flash flooding of Sept. 9, 2023, and three vacant lots also deluged, Cognetti said. Those properties are on North Merrifield Avenue and Leggett, Mary and Jackson streets. A pickup truck flipped onto its roof by flood waters on Sept. 9, 2023 on Leggett Street in Scranton. Photo taken Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023. (TIMES-TRIBUNE / FILE PHOTO) The city intended to pay for the $3.4 million total buyout cost using $2.5 million of BRIC grant funding and $849,000 of city funds, as the city's portion was a 25% contribution. The flood-prone parcels were to have vacant, condemned homes demolished and the properties repurposed for floodplain restoration and green infrastructure, which would be 'vital strategies to reduce public safety risks and avoid future disaster recovery costs,' Cognetti said. FEMA's announcement said ending BRIC will help ensure that grant funding aligns with President Donald Trump's executive orders and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's direction 'and best support states and local communities in disaster planning, response and recovery.' Cognetti said Scranton has invested significant time and resources in coordination with the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) on applications for BRIC funds. The city also was pursuing a BRIC Building Code Program Grant to update the city's outdated building codes and provide staff training to better address natural hazards like flooding, according to the mayor's letter. In July, Scranton's BRIC applications advanced past the initial federal review, which was a key step, and as recently as March 11 had continued progress in the review phase. 'We were hopeful and prepared to move forward. The abrupt cancellation of the BRIC program now threatens to erase years of planning, collaboration and federal-state-local investment — all at a time when climate-related disasters are accelerating,' Cognetti's letter said. The FEMA announcement said: 'The BRIC program was yet another example of a wasteful and ineffective FEMA program. It was more concerned with political agendas than helping Americans affected by natural disasters. Under Secretary Noem's leadership, we are committed to ensuring that Americans in crisis can get the help and resources they need.' Nationwide, $882 million of funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will be returned to the U.S. Treasury or reapportioned by Congress in the next fiscal year, according to FEMA. That 2021 law made $1 billion available for BRIC over five years. Of that, $133 million went to about 450 applications. FEMA estimates more than $3.6 billion will remain in the Disaster Relief Fund to assist with disaster response and recovery for communities and survivors. Scranton City Business Administrator Eileen Cipriani said Tuesday in a phone interview the city is contacting affected property owners of the buyouts about the federal funding being pulled and the city will be looking for alternative funding sources.
