Trump admin sued for gutting FEMA's pre-disaster program
Share this @internewscast.com

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem (left) addresses a cabinet meeting at the White House with President Donald Trump (far right) listening, on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, in Washington (AP Photo/Evan Vucci).

A group of attorneys general from blue states, along with a governor, filed a federal lawsuit in Massachusetts on Wednesday, alleging that President Donald Trump unlawfully appointed acting administrators to abruptly and illegally terminate FEMA’s critical pre-disaster mitigation program by withholding funds that Congress had already approved. This is happening at a time when people across the U.S. face increased risks from natural disasters.

The lawsuit, led by Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and attorneys general from states including Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin, argues that the steps taken by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem—specifically her intentions to either shut down or restructure FEMA—resulted in an abrupt stop to funding for the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) projects. The lawsuit claims this action undermines a program based on two decades of federal investment in disaster mitigation, which has reportedly saved Americans $157.9 billion.

FEMA is part of DHS and BRIC came about in 2018 as Trump, during his first term, signed into law the Disaster Recovery Act. That year, deadly wildfires raged in California and hurricanes wreaked havoc on Texas, Puerto Rico, and Florida.

“Over the past four years, FEMA has selected nearly 2,000 projects from every corner of the country to receive roughly $4.5 billion in funding,” the suit said, noting that “coastal communities have received the largest allocations over the past four years, with California, Louisiana, Texas, New York, New Jersey, Florida, North Carolina, and Washington leading the way.”

Earlier in 2025, wildfires leveled Los Angeles. Over July 4 weekend, Texas was devastated by flooding that, as of this writing, has taken the lives of 134 people, raising questions about the effectiveness of FEMA’s response and whether the National Weather Service adequately warned citizens amid staffing cuts.

And yet, the Trump administration’s “unlawful” shift in emphasis to post-disaster relief was enabled by acting FEMA administrators — Cameron Hamilton and then David Richardson — who didn’t have the authority to fill those roles, said the lawsuit.

“By unilaterally shutting down FEMA’s flagship pre-disaster mitigation program, Defendants have acted unlawfully and violated core separation of powers principles,” the suit said. “Second, the steps Defendants have taken to implement the termination—refusing to spend funds Congress directed toward BRIC or trying to spend them on other programs—also violate the Constitution and unlawfully intrude on Congress’s power of the purse.”

“Third, neither Mr. Hamilton nor his successor, David Richardson, were lawfully appointed to run FEMA, and they therefore lack the authority to shut down the BRIC program,” the filing continued. The suit emphasized that, leaving aside the way Hamilton and Richardson were named acting administrators, neither of them have the emergency management experience required by law.

“Like Hamilton, Richardson ‘has no prior emergency management experience,’ so he also does not meet the statutory qualifications for the FEMA Administrator,” the suit said.

The AGs and Shapiro argued that an injunction is necessary and appropriate to block the administration from illegally diverting billions intended for pre-disaster mitigation to post-disaster relief — especially as the government may begin spending those funds soon.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Judge Removes Silence Order in Bryan Kohberger Case, But There’s No Discussion Yet

The judge presiding over the trial of Idaho college murderer Bryan Kohberger…

Teenager Flees Police and Causes Fatal Crash, Killing Father of Two

Left: Daniel Shane Canales appears via Zoom for his arraignment on July…

Trump’s Pardon Unable to Aid Jan. 6 Defendant in Unrelated Case

Left: President Donald Trump makes a statement after signing legislation that prevents…

“Trump Denies Wishing Epstein a Happy Birthday: Claims ‘May Each Day Be Another Delightful Surprise'”

A collection of letters gifted to Jeffrey Epstein for his 50th birthday…

Road Rage Incident Escalates: Man Follows and Assaults Husband After Being Honked At

An Ohio man trailed a woman to her residence after she honked…

Florida Man Pursues Kids Playing Pranks While Driving

A Florida man was taken into custody following reports from witnesses claiming…

Teen Charged in Paddleboarder Woman’s Death: Police Report

Inset: Sunshine Stewart (Stewart family). Background: Crawford Pond in Union, Maine, is…

Mother Shoots Child’s Father in Front of Their Son, Police Report

Inset: Keosha Vester (Shelby County Jail). Background: Authorities at the scene where…

Gainesville Resident Faces Charges of Kidnapping, Burglary, and Stalking Following Alleged Attack on Ex-Girlfriend and Incident Involving 7-Year-Old

Staff report GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Davongelo Cortez Kimbrough, 33, was taken into…

‘Right Shoe Heist’ Concludes as Man Charged with Stealing 53 Right-Foot Shoes

A man who allegedly stole 53 right shoes from a small family-run…

The 5th Circuit Court has the sole authority to rule on the Alien Enemies Act case.

President Donald Trump takes part in the 157th National Memorial Day Observance…

Police Report: 7-Year-Old in Critical Condition After Prolonged Malnutrition

Left to right: Chris Freeman and Katelyn Freeman (Pope County Detention Center).…