Attorney General Jeff Jackson has filed a lawsuit challenging the cancellation of $200 million in federal funding for water, sewer, and flood protection projects. The funds were part of the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program, which was established to help communities prepare for natural disasters.
Jackson emphasized the importance of the program, stating, “This program, which the President helped establish and strengthen, was a lifeline for our towns and cities trying to make sure every resident has clean and reliable water to drink, a functioning sewage system, and measures in place to prevent the next storm from devastating their communities.” He added that FEMA’s decision to cancel the funds was unlawful and vowed to take legal action to restore them.
Governor Josh Stein expressed his support for Jackson’s lawsuit. “The people of North Carolina are all too familiar with the consequences of extreme weather,” he said. “Building more resilient infrastructure helps to mitigate damage and save lives and money.”
North Carolina Department of Public Safety Secretary Eddie M. Buffaloe Jr. also highlighted the significance of BRIC funding for the state’s infrastructure resilience. He noted that without these federal dollars, vulnerable communities would face increased risks from natural disasters.
The BRIC program originated as a small disaster mitigation initiative by FEMA in 1997 but was expanded during President Trump’s administration. It aimed at funding projects such as evacuation shelters, flood walls, utility grid protection against wildfires, and fortification of critical infrastructure.
In April, FEMA abruptly cancelled the program, affecting numerous projects nationwide. A study found that every dollar spent on mitigation saves six dollars in post-disaster costs.
Senator Tillis and Representative Edwards have warned about the financial implications of neglecting such investments: “…forgoing these critical investments will only make it harder and more expensive for communities to recover from the next storm.”
Jackson’s lawsuit argues that FEMA’s decision violates constitutional and federal laws. He seeks both preliminary and permanent injunctions to halt alternative spending of BRIC funds by FEMA and restore promised funds to North Carolina.
The lawsuit is supported by Attorneys General from several states including Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington Wisconsin as well as Pennsylvania’s governor.
