Federal Judge Strikes Down Trump's Efforts to Ax Disaster Prevention Program Amid Pushback from States and FEMA Staffers.
In a ruling that could have far-reaching implications for disaster preparedness across the United States, a federal judge has ruled that the Trump administration acted unlawfully in ending a key program aimed at helping communities withstand natural disasters. The decision came after 20 states, led by Democrats, filed a lawsuit against the administration's efforts to dismantle the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program.
The BRIC program, which was established under the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), provided funding for projects designed to enhance disaster resilience in communities across the country. The program was seen as a critical component of FEMA's efforts to prepare for and respond to increasingly severe natural disasters fueled by climate change.
According to Judge Richard Stearns' ruling, the Trump administration did not have the authority to unilaterally terminate the BRIC program, which is designed to protect against natural disasters and save lives. The judge described the administration's actions as an "unlawful executive encroachment on the prerogative of Congress to appropriate funds for a specific and compelling purpose."
The decision comes amid significant pushback from state lawmakers and FEMA staffers, who have expressed concerns about the program's importance in preventing disasters and saving lives. In a statement, Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell praised the court's decision, saying it will "undoubtedly save lives" by preventing the federal government from terminating funding that helps communities prepare for and mitigate the impacts of natural disasters.
The Trump administration's efforts to dismantle the BRIC program were seen as part of a broader effort to overhaul FEMA and reduce its role in disaster response. However, the decision highlights the challenges faced by the agency in navigating complex policy issues and the need for bipartisan support in addressing pressing national security concerns.
As climate change continues to fuel more extreme weather events across the country, the BRIC program remains an essential component of efforts to prepare for and respond to natural disasters. The ruling is likely to have significant implications for disaster preparedness at the federal level, with many experts hailing it as a victory for communities that depend on FEMA's funding to build resilience in the face of increasing disaster risks.
In a ruling that could have far-reaching implications for disaster preparedness across the United States, a federal judge has ruled that the Trump administration acted unlawfully in ending a key program aimed at helping communities withstand natural disasters. The decision came after 20 states, led by Democrats, filed a lawsuit against the administration's efforts to dismantle the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program.
The BRIC program, which was established under the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), provided funding for projects designed to enhance disaster resilience in communities across the country. The program was seen as a critical component of FEMA's efforts to prepare for and respond to increasingly severe natural disasters fueled by climate change.
According to Judge Richard Stearns' ruling, the Trump administration did not have the authority to unilaterally terminate the BRIC program, which is designed to protect against natural disasters and save lives. The judge described the administration's actions as an "unlawful executive encroachment on the prerogative of Congress to appropriate funds for a specific and compelling purpose."
The decision comes amid significant pushback from state lawmakers and FEMA staffers, who have expressed concerns about the program's importance in preventing disasters and saving lives. In a statement, Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell praised the court's decision, saying it will "undoubtedly save lives" by preventing the federal government from terminating funding that helps communities prepare for and mitigate the impacts of natural disasters.
The Trump administration's efforts to dismantle the BRIC program were seen as part of a broader effort to overhaul FEMA and reduce its role in disaster response. However, the decision highlights the challenges faced by the agency in navigating complex policy issues and the need for bipartisan support in addressing pressing national security concerns.
As climate change continues to fuel more extreme weather events across the country, the BRIC program remains an essential component of efforts to prepare for and respond to natural disasters. The ruling is likely to have significant implications for disaster preparedness at the federal level, with many experts hailing it as a victory for communities that depend on FEMA's funding to build resilience in the face of increasing disaster risks.
especially for those states and fema staffers who were against trumps plan 
the building resilient infrastructure and communities program was such an important initiative for helping communities prepare for and respond to natural disasters 
climate change is getting more intense by the day so it's awesome that judge stearns stood up for congress's prerogative to fund this program 
and lets be real, if trumps admin had gotten away with axing this program it would've been a major setback for disaster preparedness nationwide 
thankfully we can breathe a sigh of relief now 
This ruling is a clear win for the Democratic party and a loss for the Trump administration... I mean, what's really going on here? The Trump team was just trying to cut costs and make a point about federal overreach, but they didn't think it through. 
It's like they thought Congress wouldn't notice them terminating a program that's supposed to help our communities prepare for climate disasters. Newsflash: Congress wasn't asleep at the wheel! 
We can't afford to have partisan gridlock on something as critical as disaster preparedness. The clock is ticking, and we need to get our act together before it's too late! 
anyway, its good that judge stearns stepped in and said the trumps were outta line. i mean, FEMA is already overwhelmed as it is, dont need any less funding to deal with disasters. its all about those $$$ and power lol but honestly, this ruling should be a major win for americans who care about saving lives and building safer communities 
" 20 states were like "yeah, we got your back" and now ppl are hailing it as a win 
for communities everywhere. i mean, climate change is getting wilder by the day and this program was like, super important 
. So now Trump's trying to ax a program that helps prevent disasters and you're telling me about how much he wants to mess with it? 
. Can you imagine if we didn't have programs like this in place? It would be a recipe for disaster (literally!) 
.
This is awesome news! I'm so glad the court stepped in to protect this program - it's like they finally listened to all those states and FEMA folks who were saying "wait a minute, we need more funding for disaster prevention, not less!" 
It makes total sense that the BRIC program was set up by Congress to deal with disasters and save lives. Trump trying to just unilaterally shut it down without anyone's input is crazy talk! 
The fact that a judge ruled this stuff out as an "unlawful executive encroachment" tells you that someone's been keeping tabs on what's going on in the government, which is good to know 
. I'm all for states working together to deal with disasters - it's one of those things where we all need to pitch in and help each other out 
. The BRIC program was always meant to help people prepare for these disasters, not just push it under the rug 
. It's awesome to see state lawmakers and FEMA staffers pushing back against this move 
the trump admin thought they could just ax this program without anyone noticing? 
the fact that trump wanted to terminate funding for this program just shows how out of touch he is with reality 
. i'm so glad the judge stepped in and stopped him from making things worse.
because if they don't, it'll be like we're back to square one 
. anyway, yay for justice! 
anyway im glad some states were brave enough to stand up for what they believe in and stuff i mean come on who wants to play russian roulette with disaster preparedness 
anyway, gotta say, im loving this development. states and FEMA staffers are gonna get some sweet sweet relief from having their funding axed 
lets hope trump doesnt try to appeal this or we might be back to square one 
? like, climate change is real and stuff 
. but seriously, can't he just work with the states and FEMA to make it happen instead of trying to go solo 
? this ruling is a big win for communities that are counting on those funds to build resilience