Napa County, CA — Napa County officials are heading to Washington, D.C., in a bid to restore critical federal funding after the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) abruptly canceled the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program. The program, which aimed to provide $35 million in funding for wildfire protection efforts in Napa County, was terminated as part of FEMA’s decision to scrap all BRIC applications from 2020 to 2023.
FEMA spokespersons called the BRIC program “wasteful” and criticized it for being overly focused on political agendas rather than addressing immediate disaster needs. In a statement released on Friday, the agency announced that any unallocated funds would be returned to the U.S. Treasury or the Disaster Relief Fund. According to FEMA, the decision aligns with President Donald Trump’s executive orders and the directives of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, ensuring federal funding better aligns with national priorities.
The BRIC program, established under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in 2021, was designed to provide disaster resilience funding for communities across the country. However, after $133 million was allocated to approximately 450 projects, FEMA’s decision to cancel funding for future BRIC projects left many communities, including Napa County, in a precarious position.
With over 60% of its land burned since 2017 and 26 major wildfires since 2015, Napa County is one of the most fire-prone regions in the United States. More than one-third of its residents live in designated wildfire hazard zones, and officials argue that the funding provided through the BRIC program was crucial in mitigating the risks associated with wildfires. Napa County had already committed an additional 30% match to secure $50 million in total investments for wildfire protection measures, including hazardous fuels reduction, ignition-resistant construction, and the creation of defensible spaces.
Ryan Alsop, Napa County’s CEO, expressed deep concern about FEMA’s decision, emphasizing that the county had already begun implementing the projects funded through the BRIC program. These efforts, which included environmental planning, public education campaigns, and on-the-ground fire mitigation activities, were developed in partnership with Napa Firewise, Cal Fire/Napa County Fire, and other local stakeholders. According to Alsop, the federal grant leveraged millions of dollars in local and private investments, making it a cost-effective approach to wildfire prevention.
“This federal investment was leveraging millions of local and private dollars to proactively reduce wildfire risk—something that’s far more cost-effective than disaster recovery,” Alsop said. “Our communities have already stepped up, and the loss of this support puts that momentum at risk.”
In response to the cancellation, Napa County Supervisor Anne Cottrell is leading a delegation to Washington, D.C., alongside representatives from Napa Valley Vintners and Napa Firewise. Cottrell plans to meet with federal officials to urge them to reconsider the decision, stressing that cutting the BRIC program undermines the significant progress already made in reducing wildfire risks.
“This isn’t just about one program—it’s about smart, cost-efficient investments that protect lives, homes, and our local economy,” Cottrell said. “I’m heading to D.C. to make sure our federal partners understand that cutting BRIC undermines high-impact work already underway. These projects reduce the long-term cost of disaster response, and abandoning them midstream doesn’t make fiscal or public safety sense.”
Despite the setback, Napa County officials are exploring all available avenues to continue their wildfire protection projects. They argue that the investments in prevention are far more cost-effective than responding to the destruction caused by wildfires, which can lead to enormous emergency response, recovery, and rebuilding costs.
The ongoing dispute highlights a broader challenge in balancing federal resources and priorities in the face of increasing natural disasters. As communities like Napa County continue to face heightened wildfire risks, the outcome of this conflict may set a precedent for how the federal government addresses disaster preparedness and funding moving forward.
Napa County remains committed to ensuring the safety of its residents and protecting its vulnerable infrastructure and natural resources. However, officials warn that without the federal support from programs like BRIC, their ability to continue this crucial work will be severely hindered.