Aerial view of mobile homes destroyed by a natural disaster.

Trump administration ends climate disaster program that saved billions

As flooding overwhelms communities like Natchitoches, Louisiana, the Trump administration has quietly ended a climate resilience program that saved taxpayers $6 for every $1 spent, withdrawing support from disaster-prone, low-income, and Black communities.

Adam Mahoney reports for Capital B News.

In short:

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has canceled over $1 billion in BRIC grants, including funds earmarked for Natchitoches, Louisiana, to support disaster-prevention infrastructure like backup generators for flood response.
BRIC, created under Trump in 2018 but expanded under Biden, prioritized pre-disaster planning in disadvantaged communities. Its cancellation reflects broader efforts by the current Trump administration to reverse climate-related equity programs.
The program funded projects like floodwalls, wetland restoration, and upgraded drainage systems. FEMA estimated that every dollar spent saved $6 in future disaster costs.

Key quote:

“Any funding, especially for a smaller place, you want to win and keep it. I don’t have an unlimited pot of money.”

— Ronnie Williams, mayor of Natchitoches

Why this matters:

Originally created to help communities fortify themselves before disaster strikes, BRIC focused on proactive infrastructure investments—flood walls, fire breaks, storm-proof housing—especially in areas historically left behind by federal recovery efforts. Its absence will likely be most keenly felt by poor, rural, and Black communities, who have long faced systemic hurdles in accessing both private insurance and government aid. The consequences go beyond physical safety: Research shows that after disasters, white households often see their net worth increase due to quicker access to recovery resources, while Black families and renters typically experience steep financial losses.

capitalbnews.org

Credit: Douglas Fischer

One lawyer's groundbreaking work in shaping climate law

As governments stall and emissions climb, human rights lawyers like Monica Feria-Tinta are turning to the courts to force climate action — one tree, island, or river at a time.

Samira Shackle reports for The Guardian.

In short:

Feria-Tinta is pioneering legal strategies that argue climate inaction violates human rights, helping Indigenous and vulnerable communities take their cases to global courts.
Her work includes landmark victories like the Torres Strait case, where the United Nations ruled Australia failed to protect islanders from climate harm, and Ecuador’s Los Cedros forest, which won legal rights as a living entity.
While legal wins are often slow and hard-fought, they’re shifting the global legal landscape, transforming courts into battlegrounds where climate justice and biodiversity now have a voice.

Key quote:

“Whether it’s a single tree, or a whole community depending on a river, what is at stake is the future of humanity.”

— Monica Feria-Tinta

Why this matters:

As heat, floods, and displacement intensify, the courtroom has become a potent line of defense. Climate litigation can hold powerful players accountable, push policy change, and help protect the ecosystems our health depends on — even when other systems fail. These legal wins are slow, complex, and anything but guaranteed. But they’re a signal that the courtroom is becoming one of the last places where the planet still stands a fighting chance.

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