A federal judge has ruled that the Trump administration must reinstate disaster preparedness grants that were previously halted, a decision that restores vital federal support for hundreds of community resilience and hazard mitigation projects across the United States, including key initiatives in Washington and Oregon.

The ruling, issued this month, requires the administration to reinstate funding under the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) programme, which helps local governments and organisations prepare for future natural disasters and strengthen infrastructure against climate-related threats.

The judge’s order came in response to a lawsuit brought by a coalition of states, including Washington and Oregon, challenging the decision earlier this year by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and other federal authorities to terminate grant awards and withhold funding for previously approved projects.

Among the numerous initiatives affected was a planned microgrid in Goldendale, Washington, designed to connect hospital and school facilities to solar and battery storage to ensure power during extended outages.

Local leaders had warned that losing the grants would endanger the project’s future and community safety.

In Oregon, health and disaster preparedness infrastructure was also at stake, including a project by Columbia Memorial Hospital in Astoria intended to expand facilities with upgraded tsunami and earthquake resilience features.

That project had been slated for approximately twenty million dollars in BRIC funding before the administration’s abrupt cutback, and its reinstatement is expected to allow work to continue on plans that would make the facility safer for patients and staff in the event of major seismic events.

The BRIC programme, funded by Congress and administered by FEMA, is the largest federal mitigation grant programme, providing resources to reduce the impacts of disasters by investing in pre-disaster planning, hazard mitigation infrastructure, and community resilience measures.

The judge determined that the administration exceeded its authority by cancelling awards and failing to disburse monies that had been allocated by law, concluding that the executive branch cannot terminate or reallocate congressionally appropriated funds without legal basis.

The decision reflects broader scrutiny of the administration’s approach to disaster funding decisions and underscores the role of the judiciary in upholding statutory funding priorities.

Officials in Washington and Oregon welcomed the court’s action as a necessary affirmation of continued federal support for disaster readiness and mitigation.

Advocates said the reinstated grants will protect lives, reduce long-term recovery costs, and strengthen rural and urban communities against intensifying natural hazards such as wildfires, floods and earthquakes.

Project leaders expressed cautious optimism that the restored funding will enable them to move forward with critical planning, construction and resilience work after months of uncertainty.