FEMA halts disaster mitigation grant program
On April 4, FEMA announced it will not allocate funding for the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities grant program. The cancellation of this funding may have several implications for counties.
By: Brett Mattson, legislative director for justice & public safety, and Naomi Freel, legislative associate
National Association of Counties
On April 4, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced it will not allocate $750 million this year for the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant program. According to the press release, FEMA will also stop funding BRIC projects that were previously approved and are still underway. The cancellation is part of a broader evaluation of FEMA grant programs and priorities, which includes a shift in focus toward state and local responsibility for disaster preparedness under an Executive Order signed by President Trump last month.
What was the BRIC program
Launched in 2020, the BRIC program provided federal funding for hazard mitigation projects aimed at reducing the long-term risks and costs of natural disasters. Counties, along with states, municipalities and tribal governments, were eligible to apply through a national competitive process.
BRIC supported projects such as flood control systems, wildfire prevention, stormwater management upgrades and strengthened building codes. The program typically covered up to 75% of project costs and awarded more than $5 billion in grants since its inception.
Impact on counties
The cancellation of BRIC funding may have several implications for counties:
- Paused or canceled projects: Counties with BRIC-funded projects in early stages may need to halt work or seek new funding sources.
- Budget and planning adjustments: County governments that anticipated BRIC support may need to delay or scale back infrastructure investments.
- Reduced capacity for long-term risk reduction: Without access to BRIC’s federal match, counties may find it more difficult to pursue large-scale mitigation projects.
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