In yet another legal setback for the Trump administration’s push to rein in Washington’s waste, a Clinton-appointed federal judge has temporarily blocked the President’s efforts to reallocate FEMA disaster funds—sparking outrage among conservatives calling for fiscal sanity.
On Tuesday, Judge Richard Stearns ruled that the Trump administration cannot repurpose funds from the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program while a lawsuit from 20 Democrat-run states plays out in court. BRIC, a pet project of climate activists, funnels billions into so-called “resilience” projects that critics say lack transparency and accountability.
“The government is preliminarily enjoined from spending the funds allocated to BRIC for non-BRIC purposes,” Stearns wrote in his ruling.
Democrat States Sue to Keep Their Hands on Your Money
The lawsuit was spearheaded by liberal attorneys general from states like California, New York, Illinois, and Massachusetts—many of which are notorious for skyrocketing taxes, bloated budgets, and runaway spending. Pennsylvania’s Democrat Governor Josh Shapiro also joined the suit, despite bipartisan pushback in his own state.
“The President keeps breaking the law, and we keep holding him accountable in court,” claimed California AG Rob Bonta—ignoring the fact that Congress never explicitly blocked reallocation of the funds.
Conservatives argue that the BRIC program is yet another example of inefficient government bureaucracy being protected by activist judges and Democrat elites—many of whom have mismanaged their own states into economic decline.
Trump’s Push for Accountability Blocked Again
The Trump administration has been working to cut unnecessary federal programs, refocus FEMA spending on national priorities, and restore fiscal responsibility in Washington. Programs like BRIC, while wrapped in feel-good climate rhetoric, often spend taxpayer dollars on low-impact projects with little oversight.
Though the court’s ruling doesn’t release the funds back to the states, it prevents the administration from using the money elsewhere—tying the hands of FEMA during an active hurricane season.
“We should be investing in emergency response, not pet projects,” said one senior White House official, adding that reforming FEMA remains a top priority.
What’s Really at Stake?
This legal maneuver is about more than just FEMA. It’s about whether the executive branch can challenge the entrenched interests of the federal bureaucracy—a fight President Trump has led since Day One. It’s no surprise that Democrat states, activist judges, and career bureaucrats are teaming up to stop him.