Moulton Leads Letter to Trump Administration Opposing Cuts to Critical Disaster Preparedness Funding

Washington D.C. - Congressmen Seth Moulton (MA-06) and Mike Thompson (CA-04)are leading more than two dozen Democratic colleagues to oppose FEMA's decision to terminate critical funding for projects that reduce disaster risks, improve community preparedness, and enhance infrastructure to withstand future hazards like floods, wildfires, hurricanes, and earthquakes.

In a letter sent to the acting FEMA administrator, the lawmakers sound the alarm over Trump and Musk's decision to cancel the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program. Established during the first Trump Administration, the loss of this grant funding is a major blow to coastal and climate-vulnerable communities across Massachusetts, especially on the North Shore.

"Ending the FEMA BRIC program is a terrible mistake and marks a huge setback for many climate-vulnerable cities and towns in my district," said Rep. Moulton. "On the North Shore, BRIC grants have helped coastal communities like Newburyport and Manchester update infrastructure and mitigate threats from sea-level rise, flooding, and storm surge. Other communities will now be denied that critical support. We are demanding answers and a course correction from the Administration. It's clear that they have no interest in supporting community efforts to protect critical infrastructure, public safety, and our local economies."

"It is disappointing that the federal administration is canceling essential aid to Massachusetts. These projects help our communities stay safe and healthy, prepare for natural disasters, and build resilient infrastructure. Recently, Newburyport received $2.2 million dollars from FEMA to help rehabilitate the bulkhead to secure our waterfront from the threats of sea level rise," said Newburyport mayor Sean Reardon. "This year, Newburyport was anticipating receipt of BRIC  grant to help protect our watershed and drinking water supply. We will now need to find other resources to do this important work."

BRIC was created during the first Trump Administration as part of a larger effort to enhance disaster resilience and preparedness nationwide. Since then, FEMA has distributed $5 billion in BRIC grants, helping communities strengthen their infrastructure and mitigate the impacts of future natural disasters. FEMA recentlyannounced that it will be canceling the popular program and pulling back the $750 million planned for 2025.

North Shore communities losing funding as a result of this decision include:

• Lynnfield: $80,302.50 for Implementation of Permitting System
• Rockport: $320,000 for Thatcher Road Corridor Resilient Design; $8,437.50 for Building Code Capabilities Enhancement
• Newburyport: $50,250 for Drinking Water and Watershed Regulations Assessment & Update

In Salisbury, local officials had partnered with the state on a BRIC application to support shoreline stabilization at Salisbury Beach-a critical public access point that routinely suffers severe storm damage. Funding would have helped protect vital infrastructure, preserve access, and reduce long-term disaster recovery costs. Without BRIC, communities like Salisbury, are left with fewer tools for mitigating the impacts of climate change.

"The Trump Administration's cut to critical fire prevention grants to our district is penny-wise and pound-foolish," said letter co-lead Rep. Thompson. "Our district knows too well the devastation that comes with these horrific fires. In 2017, 2018, and 2019, we lost thousands of homes, businesses, important wildlife habitat - and most tragically, precious lives. If we don't invest in proper disaster mitigation, we risk losing more lives, increasing economic losses, and destroying our communities."

The full text of the letter can be found hereand below.

Dear Acting Administrator Hamilton:

We are writing to express our strong opposition to FEMA's decision to terminate funding under the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program. As our nation continues to face an unprecedented increase in the frequency and severity of natural disasters, programs like BRIC are critical to ensuring that communities are prepared and resilient in the face of future emergencies.

In recent years, we have seen catastrophic flooding, wildfires, hurricanes, and tornadoes devastate communities across our country. From the Gulf Coast to the West Coast, vulnerable regions are experiencing natural disasters with increasing intensity. California, in particular, has been disproportionately impacted by wildfires. In 2020 alone, California experienced the largest wildfire season in state history, with over 4.2 million acres burned, nearly 10,000 structures destroyed, and 31 lives lost, including three firefighters. The total economic losses from these fires were estimated at $12 billion, not including the long-term health and environmental impacts. These numbers reflect a growing trend. California has faced more than 100 wildfires in each of the last five years, and the state continues to face significant threats.

The Gulf Coast and Southeastern U.S. have long faced the devastating impacts of hurricanes, and recent years have only heightened the risks. In 2020, the U.S. experienced a record 30 named storms in the Atlantic hurricane season, with 13 hurricanes, including six major hurricanes. States such as Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida have faced some of the worst hurricane seasons on record. For example, Hurricane Laura, which struck Louisiana in 2020, was one of the most powerful storms to hit the state in over a century, causing at least $14 billion in damages and killing 33 people.

The BRIC program was created during the first Trump Administration as part of a larger effort to enhance disaster resilience and preparedness nationwide. Since then, FEMA has distributed $5 billion in grants through the program, helping communities take proactive steps in strengthening their infrastructure and mitigating the impacts of future natural disasters.

Without adequate investment in disaster mitigation, we risk losing more lives, increasing economic losses, and straining already overburdened emergency response systems. The BRIC program not only provides funding for infrastructure improvements but also offers communities the tools to plan, prepare, and respond effectively to future disasters. It is an investment in both long-term disaster prevention and public safety.

As natural disasters become more frequent and severe, the need for proactive resilience measures is more urgent than ever. We strongly urge FEMA to reconsider this decision and restore the BRIC program to ensure that communities across the United States have the resources they need to protect their residents, infrastructure, and economies from the devastating impacts of natural disasters.

Thank you for your attention to this matter, and we look forward to your response.

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