Latest news with #BuildingResilientInfrastructuresandCommunities
The Hill
16-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Trump sued over ending grant program
The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Boston, contends that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) unlawfully eliminated its Building Resilient Infrastructures and Communities (BRIC) program earlier this year, stepping on Congress's powers. The states say the impact of the shutdown has been 'devastating.' 'Communities across the country are being forced to delay, scale back, or cancel hundreds of mitigation projects depending on this funding,' the complaint reads. 'Projects that have been in development for years, and in which communities have invested millions of dollars for planning, permitting, and environmental review are now threatened,' it continues. Before the turn of the century, Congress and FEMA started implementing mitigation as a tactic against natural disasters, as opposed to reacting after crises. The BRIC program, created in 2018 as an iteration of past programs, has helped avoid more than $150 billion in costs alongside other federal mitigation grants, the complaint says. In April, the Trump administration shuttered the program, calling it 'wasteful' and 'politicized.' The Hill requested comment from FEMA.
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
20 states sue Trump administration over disaster prevention funding
A coalition of 20 states on Wednesday sued the Trump administration over its decision to shut down a multibillion-dollar grant program aimed at strengthening infrastructure before natural disasters strike. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Boston, contends that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) unlawfully eliminated its Building Resilient Infrastructures and Communities (BRIC) program earlier this year, stepping on Congress's powers. The states say the impact of the shutdown has been 'devastating.' 'Communities across the country are being forced to delay, scale back, or cancel hundreds of mitigation projects depending on this funding,' the complaint reads. 'Projects that have been in development for years, and in which communities have invested millions of dollars for planning, permitting, and environmental review are now threatened,' it continues. 'And in the meantime, Americans across the country face a higher risk of harm from natural disasters.' Before the turn of the century, Congress and FEMA started implementing mitigation as a tactic against natural disasters, as opposed to reacting after crises. The BRIC program, created in 2018 as an iteration of past programs, has helped avoid more than $150 billion in costs alongside other federal mitigation grants, the complaint says. In the past four years, FEMA selected nearly 2,000 projects from 'every corner of the country' to receive some $4.5 billion in funding. In April, the Trump administration shuttered the program, calling it 'wasteful' and 'politicized.' The Hill requested comment from FEMA. 'Not only are States unable to move forward with many of their planned projects, they also risk wasting the substantial time, effort, and money they have already invested in these projects, and undermining the trust they have built with local communities and industry partners, which will make it harder to undertake projects like this in the future,' the lawsuit reads. Early in President Trump's second term, he signaled a major overhaul at FEMA would be imminent, potentially resulting in its elimination. However, in the wake of deadly floods in Texas, his administration has changed its tune to one of reforming the agency as opposed to axing it altogether. The lawsuit notes that Congress has not authorized the termination of the BRIC program or a substantial reduction in FEMA's mitigation 'functions and capabilities.' 'In fact, Congress has specifically barred it,' the complaint reads. 'Therefore, the BRIC termination violates these statutes and the Separation of Powers.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
16-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
20 states sue Trump administration over disaster prevention funding
A coalition of 20 states on Wednesday sued the Trump administration over its decision to shut down a multibillion-dollar grant program aimed at strengthening infrastructure before natural disasters strike. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Boston, contends that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) unlawfully eliminated its Building Resilient Infrastructures and Communities (BRIC) program earlier this year, stepping on Congress's powers. The states say the impact of the shutdown has been 'devastating.' 'Communities across the country are being forced to delay, scale back, or cancel hundreds of mitigation projects depending on this funding,' the complaint reads. 'Projects that have been in development for years, and in which communities have invested millions of dollars for planning, permitting, and environmental review are now threatened,' it continues. 'And in the meantime, Americans across the country face a higher risk of harm from natural disasters.' Before the turn of the century, Congress and FEMA started implementing mitigation as a tactic against natural disasters, as opposed to reacting after crises. The BRIC program, created in 2018 as an iteration of past programs, has helped avoid more than $150 billion in costs alongside other federal mitigation grants, the complaint says. In the past four years, FEMA selected nearly 2,000 projects from 'every corner of the country' to receive some $4.5 billion in funding. In April, the Trump administration shuttered the program, calling it 'wasteful' and 'politicized.' The Hill requested comment from FEMA. 'Not only are States unable to move forward with many of their planned projects, they also risk wasting the substantial time, effort, and money they have already invested in these projects, and undermining the trust they have built with local communities and industry partners, which will make it harder to undertake projects like this in the future,' the lawsuit reads. Early in President Trump's second term, he signaled a major overhaul at FEMA would be imminent, potentially resulting in its elimination. However, in the wake of deadly floods in Texas, his administration has changed its tune to one of reforming the agency as opposed to axing it altogether. The lawsuit notes that Congress has not authorized the termination of the BRIC program or a substantial reduction in FEMA's mitigation 'functions and capabilities.' 'In fact, Congress has specifically barred it,' the complaint reads. 'Therefore, the BRIC termination violates these statutes and the Separation of Powers.'
