Call to Action – Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC)

On April 4, 2025, FEMA announced the termination of the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program and the cancellation of all BRIC applications from Fiscal Years 2020–2023. FEMA cited concerns about waste and political agendas; however, the reality is that this decision strips communities of the most substantial mitigation grant funding available at the federal level.

The cancellation will result in the return or redirection of $882 million in unspent funds from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). This represents not only a significant financial loss but also a strategic setback for our nation’s ability to build long-term community resilience against disasters.

Congressman Chuck Edwards (R-NC) drafted a letter to the White House requesting the reinstatement of BRIC and is seeking co-signers.

Why This Matters

• BRIC was established in 2018 through the Disaster Recovery Reform Act, passed by Congress with bipartisan support and signed into law by President Trump.
• The program was designed to shift FEMA’s focus from response to resilience, providing long-term investments in community infrastructure, hazard mitigation, and risk reduction.
• According to the Congressional Budget Office, every $1 invested in mitigation saves up to $18 in disaster response and recovery.

IAEM represents thousands of emergency managers tasked with preparing, protecting, and rebuilding communities. As such, we must be vocal advocates for the tools that make our work possible. BRIC wasn’t perfect, but it was a meaningful investment in mitigation and infrastructure.

This decision not only eliminates access to proactive funding but also threatens the broader culture of mitigation that our profession has worked to build. The elimination of BRIC is a direct blow to long-term planning, local preparedness, and whole-community resilience. We believe it is crucial that the voices of Emergency Managers are heard so that your experiences can be shared.

How IAEM Members Can Make an Impact

• Share your stories. Elevate real-world examples of how BRIC funding has supported or would have supported local mitigation and infrastructure efforts.
• Advocate for reform, not elimination. We acknowledge the program’s complexity and inequities. But the solution is improving access, not abandoning the mission.
• Strengthen relationships with federal and Congressional offices to communicate the value of mitigation and the role emergency managers play in implementing it.
• Position IAEM members as subject matter experts in shaping future grant reform, funding structures, and public policy.

Act Today

• Contact your U.S. Senators and Representatives. Let them know that IAEM supports the letter drafted by Congressman Chuck Edwards (R-NC) and request that they sign on for their support.
  • Representatives may use this link to sign on to the letter.  https://quill.senate.gov/letters/letter/24430/opt-in/view/4a8080a7-8633-46d6-a3bc-632cf2556887/ Note: Only Congressional Representatives may access this link. You may share the link to ask your Representative to sign on to the letter.
• Share your BRIC impact stories with IAEM and through your local networks to help elevate the profession's voice.
• Engage in regular dialogue with policymakers and stakeholders about mitigation priorities and community risk.
• Speak through IAEM. If your agency limits direct advocacy, represent IAEM through your committee roles or as a subject matter expert.

Priority Issues

• Reinstate and reform BRIC to ensure communities can access mitigation funding equitably and efficiently.
• Ensure timely and predictable federal funding cycles for local emergency management and resilience projects.
• Encourage increased investment in state and local mitigation programs, especially for under-resourced jurisdictions.
• Address gaps in local capacity that prevent small communities from accessing complex federal grants.
• Reaffirm that investing in mitigation saves lives, reduces costs, and protects the nation’s most vulnerable populations.

Now is the time to make our voices heard. Decisions about disaster funding and resilience cannot be made without input from the professionals on the front lines. Together, we can protect the future of mitigation in America and ensure our communities have the resources they need to weather what comes next. Let’s lead with integrity, professionalism, and unwavering commitment to the emergency management mission. And let’s ensure our voices and our expertise guide the future of this profession.