FEMA Resumes BRIC Program with $1 Billion Funding

The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced on Wednesday that it is resuming its Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program, making $1 billion in federal funding available to states, local governments, territories and Tribal Nations, just weeks after a federal judge ordered the agency to restore the initiative.

The program, which supports projects to protect communities from natural hazards such as fires, floods, earthquakes and hurricanes, was canceled last April by then-acting FEMA Administrator Cameron Hamilton, who described it as wasteful and ineffective. The decision halted approximately $3.6 billion in previously awarded grants for infrastructure protection efforts across the country. A coalition of 22 Democratic-led states and the District of Columbia sued the Trump administration, arguing the cancellation violated federal law. In December, U.S. District Judge Richard G. Stearns ruled the termination unlawful and ordered FEMA to reverse course. When the agency did not promptly release funds, Stearns issued another order this month directing further steps toward compliance.

FEMA's announcement comes amid broader cuts to disaster preparedness funding...