New York Attorney General Letitia James is taking the Trump administration to court over its decision to abruptly end a bipartisan disaster mitigation program that has funded hundreds of life-saving infrastructure projects nationwide.
“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,” James said Tuesday. “New Yorkers depend on quality roads, floodwalls, and other vital infrastructure to keep them safe when disaster strikes.”
James joined 19 other state attorneys general and the governor of Pennsylvania in filing a lawsuit to stop the termination of FEMA’s Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program. The coalition is seeking a court order to restore billions in funding and block the administration from reallocating those funds to other uses.
The BRIC program, launched with bipartisan support, helps local governments fortify infrastructure against natural disasters before they strike. Grants cover up to 75% of a project’s cost, or 90% for small rural communities. Since 2020, nearly 2,000 projects across the country have been awarded roughly $4.5 billion.
New York has 38 BRIC projects totaling more than $380 million now at risk. In New York City alone, 19 projects could be affected, including $50 million for the Central Harlem Cloudburst Flood Mitigation Project, which is designed to protect over 45,000 residents from flash floods.
Studies show BRIC saves taxpayers money—on average, every $1 in mitigation avoids $6 in disaster recovery costs. Since its inception, the program has prevented an estimated $150 billion in damages nationwide.
Despite that record, the Trump administration terminated BRIC in April, transferring over $4 billion into post-disaster grant programs. The lawsuit argues this decision is unconstitutional and violates Congressional mandates. It also contends that FEMA’s leadership lacked lawful authority to end the program.
Communities across the country are now facing project delays, cutbacks, or cancellations—often after investing millions in planning and environmental reviews.
“Congress has written into law that disaster preparedness is a core part of FEMA’s mission,” James said. “This administration has no authority to cut this program that has helped save countless lives.”
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