Noem Rejects Nearly $10M in FEMA Grants, Calling Program ‘Wasteful’

South Dakota will forfeit nearly $10 million in FEMA funding after Governor Kristi Noem withdrew the state from the federal Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program, calling it “wasteful” and “ineffective.” The program was designed to help local communities strengthen infrastructure and prepare for future disasters.

By Christal Blue May 7, 2025 11:35 am

MITCHELL, S.D. (MITCHELLNOW) South Dakota will miss out on nearly $10 million in FEMA funding after Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem ended the state’s participation in the federal Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program last month, calling it “wasteful” and “ineffective.” The grants were meant to help local communities strengthen infrastructure and prepare for future disasters. KeloLand news reports the hardest-hit areas include Walworth County, which lost nearly $4 million, Rapid City with a $2.6 million cut, and Chancellor with almost $500,000 in cut funding. The state only disclosed the impact of the funding loss this week. For more Government stories from MitchellNow.com, Click Here.

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