Attorney General Kwame Raoul secured a court order on Mar. 6 requiring the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to reverse its termination of the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities Program (BRIC) and restore billions in funding for disaster mitigation projects. The order follows a motion filed by Raoul and a coalition of states seeking enforcement of a previous court decision from December.
The BRIC program is considered vital for communities preparing for natural disasters, as it provides resources to strengthen infrastructure before disasters strike. “I’m pleased with the court’s decision directing the administration to abide by the court’s order and restore this vital program to prepare for disasters and protect our communities,” Raoul said. He added, “Congress appropriated funding to the BRIC program because of the important role it plays in protecting property, reducing injuries and saving lives before natural disasters strike. Our coalition filed a lawsuit because the Trump administration’s attempt to end the program was unlawful, and the court agreed. The separation of powers and the rule of law still matter in our democracy.”
For three decades, BRIC has helped communities nationwide mitigate risks from natural disasters by supporting cost-effective projects that save lives and reduce property damage. A recent study found that every dollar spent on mitigation saves an average of six dollars in post-disaster costs. In July 2025, Raoul joined other attorneys general in filing a lawsuit against FEMA’s move to terminate BRIC, which had already delayed or canceled hundreds of projects across the country.
The latest court order requires FEMA to make pre-disaster mitigation funds available as mandated by law, update states on current BRIC project statuses, file status reports with the court, and issue a fiscal year 2024 Notice of Funding Opportunity within 21 days. Over four years, nearly 2,000 projects have been selected nationwide for about $4.5 billion in BRIC funding.
In Illinois specifically, BRIC grants have supported efforts such as relocating a wastewater treatment plant out of a floodway—protecting drinking water for several communities—and reducing flood risk in Des Plaines River Valley where damages have exceeded $35 million.
Raoul was joined by attorneys general from multiple states as well as governors from Pennsylvania and Kentucky in securing this order. The Illinois Attorney General has also advocated for vulnerable groups including workers, immigrants, seniors according to its official website. Each year thousands of consumer complaints are handled according to its official website, while efforts continue to protect consumers, promote safer communities, and advocate for environmental issues according to its official website.
The office extends advocacy across Illinois according to its official website, partners with law enforcement agencies to support crime victims and promote open government according to its official website, and offers services such as complaint filing related to consumer fraud or civil rights according to its official website.