A U.S. district judge in Boston has issued a preliminary injunction, stopping the Trump administration from redirecting over $4 billion from the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program.
This ruling preserves funding for disaster preparedness projects across the nation.
The decision came after 20 states, mostly led by Democrats, filed a lawsuit claiming the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) overstepped its authority.
The BRIC program, established during President Trump’s first term in 2018, aids states and localities in fortifying infrastructure against floods, hurricanes, and wildfires.
Over four years, it has approved $4.5 billion for nearly 2,000 projects, focusing on coastal and vulnerable areas.
FEMA’s April announcement to terminate the program labeled it as wasteful and politicized, sparking the legal challenge.
Judge Richard Stearns explained that states face irreparable harm if funds are lost, noting the program’s role in saving lives and reducing recovery costs. He emphasized that every dollar spent on mitigation saves six in future expenses, per FEMA data.
Examples of at-risk projects include Connecticut’s $42 million coastal defenses in Bridgeport and Texas’ $50 million stormwater upgrades in Austin. Michigan’s sewage improvements in Detroit protect hundreds of homes from flooding.
Nationwide, these initiatives enhance resilience, preventing higher costs from disasters that are intensifying.
The lawsuit was led by Massachusetts and Washington, but also included Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wisconsin.
The administration views reforms as essential to cut inefficiencies. These states, however, argue the move unlawfully bypasses Congress, potentially jeopardizing public safety.
FEMA Acting Administrator David Richardson maintains no grants have been canceled yet, and the agency seeks to streamline operations under Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem
Earlier this week, in a related development, the Trump administration reversed a controversial policy that would have denied FEMA grants to states and cities boycotting Israeli companies.
Initially, grant terms prohibited limiting commercial ties with Israel, affecting up to $1.9 billion in aid for emergency equipment and power systems.
DHS quickly removed the clause after backlash, clarifying no new conditions were imposed and affirming support for Israel, but without political litmus tests.
President Trump’s team pushes for FEMA reforms to better serve Americans hit by natural disasters. Rapid hurricane responses in his prior term highlight effective leadership, earning strong support. Still, some disaster-prone states remain skeptical.
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