North Carolina Secures Legal Victory Over FEMA in Grant Dispute
In a significant legal victory, North Carolina and 11 other states have successfully challenged the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) over the withholding of crucial emergency preparation funds. The funds, distributed through the Emergency Management Performance Grant and the Homeland Security Grant Program, are essential for states to effectively prepare for emergencies.
The lawsuit, initiated by North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson and other state representatives in November, was directed against FEMA and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. As explained by Jackson, “The court saw through FEMA’s attempt to break the law and deny money that North Carolina relies on to respond to hurricanes, natural disasters, and other emergencies.” He further emphasized that the state is set to recover the $17 million allocated by Congress, ensuring readiness for future crises.
The states involved in the lawsuit contended that the Trump administration unlawfully imposed new conditions on grant recipients without congressional approval. One such condition required states to certify that their population did not include individuals removed under federal immigration laws.
The judge presiding over the case concurred with the states, ruling that the administration’s actions were beyond its authority and described them as “arbitrary and capricious.” The grants in question are vital for funding the salaries of nearly 100 state emergency management personnel and supporting local law enforcement and terrorism prevention initiatives.
During Hurricane Helene, North Carolina effectively utilized these funds to activate and deploy trained emergency management teams, coordinate rescue operations and shelters, and maintain operations amidst widespread outages, demonstrating the critical nature of this funding.
This legal success follows another recent victory against FEMA, where a court mandated the reinstatement of millions in climate resiliency grants, including a notable $200 million for North Carolina.
