FEMA complies with court order to resume major disaster preparedness grant program

FEMA reopened applications Wednesday for a major resilience grant program after a federal judge ordered the agency to restore funding that it had previously canceled. The agency had shut down the program last year, but the court ruling forced compliance within three weeks, allowing grant applications to resume. The program funds disaster preparedness and resilience projects across states and municipalities, making its restoration significant for communities preparing for future emergencies. The court order underscores legal constraints on executive agency authority to unilaterally eliminate established federal funding streams. The decision affects organizations and local governments that depend on FEMA grants to strengthen infrastructure and emergency response capabilities.