Attorney General Dana Nessel of Michigan, supported by a coalition of 23 states, is locking horns again with the Trump administration over disaster preparedness funding. A motion filed by the officials urgently requests the District Court of Massachusetts to enforce a previous order that barred the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) from cutting the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities Program (BRIC), as reported by the Michigan Department of Attorney General. This program has long been a cornerstone for communities across the nation to strengthen their defenses against natural disasters.
The legal tussle began when the coalition went to court on July 16, 2025, to stop FEMA from terminating BRIC, disrupting numerous mitigation efforts nationwide. Winning the case on December 11, 2025, the court considered FEMA's action unlawful. It then instructed the agency to reverse the termination immediately. However, FEMA has since shown a "wait and see" approach, said the Michigan Department of Attorney General, and has not followed through with any clear actions that indicate compliance with the court order, two months after it was issued.
The BRIC program holds substantial financial weight, with FEMA choosing nearly 2,000 projects to receive approximately $4.5 billion in funding. Michigan alone has had 24 projects with federal funding exceeding $29 million. The significance of this program can't be overstated; its focus on preemptive measures saves not just money but lives, too. The failure to comply with the court order jeopardizes these benefits and leaves local communities in limbo regarding critical funding for their infrastructure projects.
In light of the federal government's inaction, Attorney General Nessel and her allies from various states are pressing the court for a firm enforcement of its December 11 order. The coalition’s filing demands the resumption of BRIC funding according to statute, updates on project statuses, clear communication of policy reversals, and periodic reporting on compliance actions.
Joining forces with Michigan’s Attorney General are the attorneys general from Arizona, California, and numerous other states, as well as the governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania. Their collective premise is inarguable: When it comes to disaster preparedness, the stakes are high, and the law is unequivocal—a notion the current administration is expected to uphold as it confronts this coalition's unwavering resolve.
