James Sues FEMA Over Illegal BRIC Program Cuts

New York Attorney General Letitia James has joined forces with a coalition of 19 other states in a lawsuit against the Trump administration. The target: the illegal shutdown of FEMA’s Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program, which has been instrumental in providing billions of dollars for disaster preparedness infrastructure across the nation.

The BRIC program, which has received bipartisan support since the 1990s, has proved pivotal in saving lives and protecting property. It offered financial and technical assistance to governments at all levels to enhance community resilience against natural disasters. However, the administration’s abrupt termination of the program earlier this year threatens billions intended to safeguard communities across America.

‘This administration’s decision to slash billions of dollars that protect our communities from floods, wildfires, and other disasters puts millions of New Yorkers at risk,’ said Attorney General James. ‘New Yorkers depend on quality roads, floodwalls, and other vital infrastructure to keep them safe when disaster strikes.’

The BRIC program has supported over 2,000 projects across the country with nearly $4.5 billion in funding. New York alone stands to lose over $380 million in critical project funding, including $50 million for the Central Harlem Cloudburst Flood Mitigation Project. Studies show that each dollar spent on mitigation saves an average of $6 in post-disaster costs.

Despite its success and widespread support, the administration terminated the program in April 2025, reallocating over $4 billion intended for pre-disaster mitigation to post-disaster grants. This decision has delayed or scaled back critical projects nationwide, leaving communities vulnerable. The lawsuit seeks a court order to stop the termination of the BRIC program and prevent the illegal reallocation of its funds.