The Trump Administration has made the decision to cancel a FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grant program known as Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC), which was set to provide $90 million in disaster prevention aid to Massachusetts. This grant was intended for 18 communities, one regional planning commission, and two state agencies, aiming to enhance their resilience against severe weather events that have increasingly plagued the area in recent years.
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey expressed discontent with the federal government's choice to revoke BRIC funding, stating, "In recent years, Massachusetts communities have been devastated by severe storms, flooding and wildfires. We rely on FEMA funding to not only rebuild but also take steps to protect against future extreme weather," according to a statement obtained by mass.gov. This funding gap, Healey argues, could leave cities and towns more vulnerable and burdened with higher costs.
Lieutenant Governor Driscoll backed Healey’s concerns, emphasizing the vital role of FEMA funding in city and town disaster preparedness. "Our administration is here to support our local leaders as much as we can, and we have impactful resilience programming underway, but we need the federal government to uphold their end of the bargain," Driscoll told mass.gov.
Rebecca Tepper, the Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary, highlighted the fiscal wisdom in investing in resilience, noting "For every dollar we invest in resilience today, we save $13 in avoided damages and economic impacts," as reported by mass.gov. Several local leaders have also expressed their concerns, and, their frustration with the unexpected withdrawal of federal support.
Projects impacted by the cancellation include efforts to fortify Moakley Park and Tenean Beach against flooding, improve critical infrastructure in various communities, and ensure safety in environmental justice areas. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu lamented the loss of nearly $35 million in federal grants. "The Trump Administration’s unlawful cancellation of nearly $35 million in federal grants for flood protection projects at Moakley Park and Tenean Beach will put jobs, people, and property at risk," Wu declared, in an interview shared by mass.gov.
