Vermont Public Safety: FEMA cancels un‑obligated BRIC funding; federal training paused for nonfederal attendees

The Vermont Department of Public Safety told the House Appropriations Committee on April 23 that FEMA has canceled un‑obligated funding for the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program and that several federally provided training programs have been paused for non‑federal attendees, potentially affecting local mitigation planning and firefighter training.

Department officials said the BRIC line on the department’s federal funding workbook shows about $2.9 million in federal dollars for projects that are now canceled for any funds that are not already obligated. "We were notified, that that grant has been canceled, for any non obligated funding or any, funding that was obligated but not yet under construction," said Dean Beatty, deputy commissioner of the Vermont Department of Public Safety.

Why it matters: BRIC funds are used to support local hazard‑mitigation planning, project scoping and buyouts. The department said its typical BRIC set‑aside—roughly $2.0 million per year used to help towns update local hazard mitigation plans and to scope projects—could be at risk going forward. Melissa Austin, a supervisor with the department, said the BRIC money also supports local planning efforts and occasional buyouts: "We often have a local activation plans ... In addition, we may, choose to go to buyouts, some property buyouts through that program as well." The department noted that projects already under construction should continue to receive FEMA funding.

Department officials told the committee they do not yet have a complete accounting of which BRIC funds are obligated and which will be returned to the federal government. "We don't have those figures as to what funding might be, in progress that we get to keep versus what hasn't been started and would be returned to the the feds," said Rick Helmick, director of finance and administration. Officials said they will follow up with the committee once the emergency management director compiles the accounting.

Training and resource impacts: The department also described cuts to federally provided training. Officials said classes at the National Fire Academy and some Center for Domestic Preparedness courses have been curtailed for non‑federal attendees; the department has suspended some local sessions and sent fewer students to national sessions. The department estimated the immediate direct impact on Vermonters from those cancellations is small "—probably less than 20" people in the programs discussed, and that the participants are primarily volunteers but can include professionals.

"They have now cut classes to non federal employees," one official said. The department emphasized that the core state‑required firefighter training carried out in Vermont is not dependent on those federal classes, but the federally provided offerings expand the breadth of training available, particularly leadership and advanced topics.

Larger federal streams: Committee members and department staff also discussed larger FEMA funding lines listed in the workbook. The public assistance line was listed at about $51.8 million in the department workbook and the department identified roughly $8.3 million for the 15% hazard‑mitigation portion tied to declared disasters. Department staff said public assistance draws and mitigation funding have continued to move and that they had not seen an ongoing hold on those streams.

Community policing and other grants: The department confirmed that the Public Safety Partnership and Community Policing grant (COPS) shown on the worksheet—budgeted in the workbook at roughly $3.8 million—funds the state’s anti‑heroin task force, including five backfill troopers and a criminal intelligence analyst. Officials said they had received no notification that those grants were being paused.

Budget and staffing context: Committee members asked how dependent the department is on federal funds. Department staff said federal grants make up a significant portion of the department’s budget; the department’s FY25 appropriation figures in the workbook were discussed as showing sizable FEMA‑related streams. The department told the committee that about 51 full‑time equivalent positions are funded by federal grants (the worksheet line for FTEs associated with grants was reviewed), and that the department employs a large state workforce overall; the transcript records the department stating "605 full time and 200 part time" in the exchange, which department staff said during the meeting they would clarify in follow up.

Next steps and uncertainty: Commissioner Jen Morrison told the committee the department is monitoring the situation closely. "I would suggest that we're worried about everything. That's our job," Morrison said, adding that staff are distinguishing confirmed cancellations from speculation and are prioritizing verification and follow up. Committee members asked the department to keep the Appropriations Committee updated as the department receives more precise information about which awards are obligated and which will be rescinded.

No formal committee action or votes were taken during the briefing. Department staff said they would provide additional, itemized follow‑up on obligations and any effects on state reimbursements or planned projects.