Disaster Relief and Emergency Services
Last Updated: April 8, 2025
Grants being cut or changed
In 2025, disaster relief and emergency services grants have seen significant shifts in funding priorities. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has reduced funding for community resilience and mitigation grants, particularly those that supported local disaster preparedness planning, hazard mapping, and resilience infrastructure. Programs like the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) initiative are experiencing slowed disbursement, and funding for public education and outreach on climate-related disaster risks has been deprioritized.
Eliminations or restructuring
The Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG), which supports state and local emergency management capacity, is facing proposed cuts of up to 25%. FEMA is also consolidating smaller technical assistance programs and shifting emphasis toward rapid response over long-term recovery and preparedness. Several pilot programs launched during the COVID-19 pandemic to support community-led emergency response have been discontinued.
On hold or court challenges
Legal challenges are being considered by states and localities that were awarded BRIC and flood mitigation grants that are now delayed or reduced mid-contract. Some congressional representatives from high-risk disaster areas have introduced legislation to restore pre-disaster mitigation funding levels, but no legal injunctions have yet been filed.
Timeline
Disaster preparedness and resilience funding began to slow in early 2025. If the FY2026 budget proceeds as proposed, further cuts to EMPG and resilience-focused programs will take effect in October 2025. Local agencies are already reporting resource shortages ahead of hurricane and wildfire seasons.
State-level impact
States across Appalachia and the South are vulnerable. Kentucky and West Virginia, both affected by major flooding in recent years, have seen delays in infrastructure resilience projects. South Carolina and North Carolina emergency managers report reduced access to FEMA technical assistance, affecting coastal risk planning. Ohio and Pennsylvania are pausing rural flood and wildfire preparedness grants, while Tennessee has seen cuts to localized response training for small communities.
Sources
FEMA. (2025, February 20). BRIC and EMPG FY2026 Budget Adjustments. https://www.fema.gov/news-release/2025/bric-empg-budget-updates
National Emergency Management Association. (2025, March 5). State impacts of FEMA grant restructuring. https://www.nemaweb.org/news/2025-grant-restructure
NPR. (2025, March 24). Disaster preparedness funding shrinks ahead of hurricane season. https://www.npr.org/2025/03/24/fema-disaster-funding-cuts
Politico. (2025, April 1). FEMA pivots from prevention to response in new funding model. https://www.politico.com/news/2025/04/01/fema-budget-prevention-response
