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"FEMA Ends Wasteful, Politicized Grant Program" [1]

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Date: 2025-05-04  

When I saw this wording in an online search I was taken aback by the choice of words, which seemed to be from some right-wing source using emotional language to influence the reader rather than reporting facts. But it turned out this was an actual FEMA press release. FEMA is ending the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program, which helps states, local and territorial governments and Tribal Nations reduce their hazard risk by planning ahead, with actions such as rebuilding shoddy infrastructure with greater robustness to withstand disasters.

FEMA Ends Wasteful, Politicized Grant Program, Returning Agency to Core Mission of Helping Americans Recovering from Natural Disasters

“The BRIC program was yet another example of a wasteful and ineffective FEMA program. It was more concerned with political agendas than helping Americans affected by natural disasters. Under Secretary Noem’s leadership, we are committed to ensuring that Americans in crisis can get the help and resources they need.” Approximately $882 million of funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will be returned to the U.S. Treasury or reapportioned by Congress in the next fiscal year. The 2021 law made $1 billion available for BRIC over five years, $133 million to date has been provided for about 450 applications. FEMA estimates more than $3.6 billion will remain in the Disaster Relief Fund to assist with disaster response and recovery for communities and survivors. Ending this program will help ensure that grant funding aligns with the President’s Executive Orders and Secretary Noem’s direction and best support states and local communities in disaster planning, response and recovery.

So, while the building industry and governments are focusing on resiliency, recognizing the importance of actually PREPARING for disasters by increasing the ability of facilities and communities to withstand these events, the T**** regime considers such an effort “wasteful and ineffective.” Guess it’s better to fix things after they’re damaged than to avoid damage in the first place. But of course, this regime is not intending to help localities after a disaster. Sarah Huckabee Sanders can give some insight on this topic.

Snopes: What to know about claims Trump denied disaster relief to Arkansas after tornadoes

Kristi Noem and her boss want to eliminate FEMA, because of course, states like Louisiana are exquisitely equipped to handle disasters on their own, without all that blue state money. Maybe they can hire “Brownie” as a consultant. He is known to do a heck of a job.

The Hill: Noem’s vow to ‘eliminate’ FEMA raises alarms

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