Lansing, Michigan – Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and a group representing more than 20 states have gone back to federal court to get a previous decision enforced that stopped the end of a major disaster-preparedness program. The motion, which was sent to the U.S. District Court in Massachusetts, urges the court to force the Federal Emergency Management Agency to implement its December decision to bring back the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program, or BRIC.
For thirty years, the BRIC initiative has used federal funds to make infrastructure stronger before disasters happen. The program has helped lower injuries, protect property, and lessen the long-term financial strain that often comes with severe weather and other emergencies by focusing on preventive and resilience. Nessel says that such rights remain at risk since federal officials have not followed the court’s order to bring back the program.
“Even after my colleagues and I went to court and secured an order blocking the Trump administration from unlawfully slashing billions in disaster preparedness funding, FEMA is refusing to comply,” said Attorney General Nessel.
“No administration is above the law, and we will not stand by while critical programs that protect our communities are stymied. We will hold the Trump administration accountable and ensure Michiganders receive the services they are owed.”
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The lawsuit started in July 2025, when Nessel and other states tried to block FEMA from discontinuing BRIC. In December, the court concurred with the coalition and said the end of the program was illegal. It also ordered that efforts be taken right away to restore it.
The coalition says that even after more than two months, there is still no convincing proof of compliance. Regional FEMA offices reportedly lack guidance on restarting the program, and no concrete federal actions to restore funding have been identified.
Through the current motion, the states are asking the court to distribute pre-disaster mitigation funds, make sure that states and stakeholders are kept up to date on the status of the projects, formally notify them that the termination has been reversed, and send periodical progress reports showing that the federal government is following the rules.
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FEMA has picked about 2,000 projects throughout the country to get almost $4.5 billion in BRIC support. In Michigan, there are 24 projects valued more than $29 million. Along with the governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania, attorneys general from all over the country joined Nessel in asking the court to make sure that the order is followed and that funds for disaster preparedness is reinstated.