Attorney General Dana Nessel, along with a coalition of states, filed a motion asking the District Court of Massachusetts to enforce its order prohibiting the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) from terminating funding to disaster preparedness. Michigan stands to lose millions in funds to help prepare the state for future natural disasters.
Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities Program (BRIC):
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- For 30 years, the program has provided communities with resources to proactively fortify their infrastructure against natural disasters.
- It focuses on mitigation and community resilience ahead of disasters in order to save lives, reduce injury, protect property, and save money that would have otherwise been spent post-disaster.
Background:
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- In July 2025, Michigan and a coalition of states filed a lawsuit to prevent FEMA from terminating its BRIC program.
- In December 2025, the coalition won its case, and the court declared the termination of this congressionally mandated program unlawful.
- The court ordered FEMA to promptly take all steps necessary to reverse the termination.
- Over two months have passed, and according to the latest filing, the federal government has offered no indication they’ve complied with the court order.
Over the past four years, FEMA has selected nearly 2,000 projects to receive roughly $4.5 billion in BRIC funding nationwide. In recent years, Michigan had 24 projects selected for BRIC funding, totaling more than $29 million in federal funding.
Joining A.G. Nessel in filing this motion are the attorneys general of:
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- Arizonia
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Deleware
- The District of Columbia
- Illinois
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Minnesota
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- Oregon
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
- Washington
- Wisconsin
Additionally, the governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania joined the motion.
