Advertisement
Former President Donald Trump is back in legal trouble, this time, over a decision that critics say puts millions of Americans at greater risk during natural disasters. A group of 20 U.S. states has filed a big lawsuit in Massachusetts federal court against the Trump administration and FEMA (the Federal Emergency Management Agency). They’re accusing Trump of shutting down a vital disaster-preparation program without the legal right to do so.
The program, called Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (or BRIC), was created by Congress to help cities and towns get ready for natural disasters. It funded things like tornado safe rooms, wildfire prevention efforts, and drainage systems to prevent flooding. But earlier this year, the Trump administration suddenly cancelled it, without asking Congress or giving much explanation. That’s what the states are saying broke the law.
One big issue is that this kind of program is supposed to be protected by law. Under President Biden, the government had promised at least $200 million every year for these kinds of emergency projects. But when Trump cancelled the program, he not only stopped new funding, he also froze projects that were already in progress. His team said the program was being used for “political agendas” and called it wasteful, even though many of the communities it helped had supported him during past elections.
This legal move by the 20 states says Trump overstepped his power. They argue that only Congress can end a program that Congress itself approved and funded. Massachusetts Attorney General Joy Campbell said Trump’s decision left towns and cities on their own, without the tools they need to protect people from disasters like floods, fires, or hurricanes.
The states also point out that the current FEMA leader, picked by Trump, may not be qualified for the job. Meanwhile, FEMA hasn’t made any public comment on the lawsuit.
Local communities are already feeling the impact. In North Carolina, one town had been waiting for BRIC funding to improve its sewer system, while another town hoped to upgrade its power grid and storm drainage. Those plans are now stalled, and those towns, which had supported Trump in the past, say they feel abandoned.
This case could be a big test of whether a president can cancel programs without Congress’s approval, especially when those programs deal with public safety. And as the U.S. faces more extreme weather events, critics say pulling back this kind of support could be putting lives at risk.