Progressive Maryland

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Judge Blocks Trump’s Cuts to Disaster Relief: What It Means for Maryland

A federal judge brought a major win for Maryland and other states fighting to protect their communities from climate-fueled disasters.

U.S. District Judge Richard Stearns temporarily blocked the Trump administration from reallocating more than $4 billion in FEMA disaster mitigation funding, halting an illegal attempt to dismantle the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program. This funding is vital for flood prevention, infrastructure upgrades, and community resilience projects across the country,  including right here in Maryland.

Earlier this year, the Trump administration abruptly suspended the BRIC program, cutting off funds that had already been approved by Congress. These cuts jeopardized hundreds of critical local projects — from stormwater improvements and flood barriers to electric grid protections and wetland restoration. But thanks to a lawsuit filed by Maryland and 19 other states, the courts are stepping in to say: not so fast.

Judge Stearns ruled that the administration’s actions could cause “irreparable harm” to flood-prone areas and that FEMA officials are temporarily blocked from repurposing any BRIC funds while the lawsuit continues.

Here in Maryland, that means there’s still hope for major projects like:

  • $36 million in flood mitigation for the low-lying city of Crisfield
  • Over $30 million for the Middle Branch Resiliency Initiative, a transformative plan to restore wetlands and reduce flooding along the Patapsco River in South Baltimore

These projects are about keeping families safe, protecting homes, and responding to the realities of climate change that our most vulnerable neighborhoods are already experiencing.

Let’s not forget: BRIC has funded over 2,000 infrastructure resilience projects since 2020, helping communities avoid an estimated $150 billion in disaster-related costs. And yet, Trump’s FEMA initially tried to justify its shutdown by calling it “wasteful” and politically motivated — a claim the agency has since backtracked on in court.

The truth? BRIC was working. And it was working in places where working-class families, Black and brown communities, and historically disinvested neighborhoods need it most.

Here in Maryland, we know that the impacts of climate change — from rising sea levels to extreme rainfall — hit some communities harder than others. The Middle Branch Resiliency Initiative, for example, doesn’t just protect against flooding. It aims to restore the shoreline, create green space, and expand access to nature for communities like Cherry Hill and Brooklyn, neighborhoods that have long been left behind in urban development.

This is what environmental justice looks like. And this is what we’re fighting to protect.

At Progressive Maryland, we’re encouraged to see Attorney General Anthony Brown and a coalition of states taking action to protect our communities. This fight to preserve BRIC funding reflects our shared mission: building safer, more resilient neighborhoods where working families can thrive. We’re hopeful that Congress, FEMA, and the courts will do the right thing and uphold the law and the people it’s meant to serve.