Brady PieperThe Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is concluding a nearly $1 billion grant program. The agency says the decision was made to reduce federal spending and improve the delivery of emergency services to Americans.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the end of the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program — a federal grant initiative that funds local infrastructure and climate resilience projects around the nation. As part of an effort to eliminate waste and improve efficiency, FEMA will cancel all BRIC applications for fiscal years 2020-2023.
The elimination of the BRIC program comes after the Trump-Vance administration announced overhauls to federal preparedness and response policies, including an evaluation of the disaster relief-oriented FEMA. The administration created an advisory council, led by Secretary Noem and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, to oversee changes to FEMA’s organization.
Prior to its closure, the BRIC program provided grants to states, local and regional governments and tribal nations for projects that enhance infrastructure and bolster communities’ capability, capacity and innovation. Allocated $1 billion from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law over five years, the program authorized approximately $133 million in grants before the announcement.
Grants that were previously distributed through the program will not be required to be returned, however, in accordance with the announcement, the remaining $882 million in estimated funds will be reallocated to FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund or the U.S. Treasury.
When the funding is redistributed, the Disaster Relief Fund will sit at more than $3.6 billion, offering assistance to municipalities for disaster response and recovery.
Beyond the BRIC program, FEMA is responsible for and oversees several loan and grant programs targeting public infrastructure and climate resilience, including funds for preparedness, hazard mitigation assistance, resilience, training and food and shelter in the case of emergencies.
However, if federal spending continues to drop, some of these FEMA funding programs may be in jeopardy.
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