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The Federal Emergency Management Agency has announced the resumption of a key disaster prevention initiative after facing legal challenges that forced the reversal of its earlier cancellation. The agency is once again accepting applications for the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program, making $1 billion in federal funding available to eligible applicants.
States, local governments, territories, and Tribal Nations can now apply for grants aimed at reducing the impact of natural disasters such as wildfires, floods, earthquakes, and hurricanes. The program focuses on proactive investment in infrastructure and community resilience before disasters strike, rather than responding to damage after the fact.
FEMA's reinstatement of the BRIC program follows two significant court rulings. U.S. District Judge Richard Stearns determined in December that the Trump administration had unlawfully terminated the program and subsequently issued a follow-up order this month directing FEMA to take further steps toward fully restoring it. The agency complied by reopening the funding application process.
The program's original cancellation came in April of last year when FEMA characterized it as wasteful, ineffective, and politically motivated. Critics, including several Democratic lawmakers, pushed back strongly against that decision, arguing the administration was deliberately delaying and withholding disaster mitigation grants from communities in need.
Operating under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, FEMA carries a broad mandate to support communities before, during, and after disasters. The agency coordinates emergency personnel, equipment, and supplies in response to large-scale natural disasters. However, it has undergone considerable workforce reductions since President Trump began his second term in January 2025, raising concerns about its long-term operational capacity.
The revival of the BRIC program marks a notable shift following sustained judicial pressure, offering renewed hope for communities seeking federal support in building long-term disaster resilience.
