NC attorney general files lawsuit against FEMA, accusing agency of unlawfully withholding funds

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) – North Carolina Attorney General Jackson is suing the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Homeland Security, accusing both of withholding funds to states in need of disaster relief, the N.C. Department of Justice announced on Wednesday.

In a news release, N.C. officials said the federal government’s “unlawful actions” threaten the state’s ability to respond quickly and help people during natural disasters and other public safety emergencies like Hurricane Helene.

Jackson filed this lawsuit along with the attorneys general from Arizona, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon and Wisconsin, as well as Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear.

“Our emergency management and first responder teams worked around the clock in the weeks following Hurricane Helene, and these funds were critical to their work,” Jackson said in a statement. “We’re in hurricane season right now, and without these funds, we’ll be left with fewer resources to help people during the next storm that hits North Carolina.”

These FEMA funds are utilized to help with North Carolina’s emergency management response, which includes activating and deploying trained personnel before and during storms, coordinating lifesaving rescue operations and shelters, as well as maintaining operations during widespread power and communication outages, state officials said.

Law enforcement agencies statewide also use these grants to train, conduct drills, administer school safety and active shooter exercises, detect drones, and buy equipment for bomb squads, as well as search and rescue teams.

“The Homeland Security Grant Program and Emergency Management Performance Grant are critical funding sources for not only North Carolina Emergency Management, but also for local emergency management agencies across the state,” North Carolina Emergency Management Director Will Ray said in a statement. “The delay of these funds will have significant negative impacts to public safety for our state.” 

State officials said these grants help pay the salaries of nearly 100 emergency management workers, along with additional personnel in 100 local jurisdictions and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

This lawsuit pertains to a law that Congress passed that sets the amount each state should receive based on a formula that includes the state’s population.

“But this year, the federal government placed an unlawful hold on one grant and drastically shortened the time period to spend funds under both grants—without Congress’s approval and without providing any reason,” the news release from the N.C. Department of Justice stated.

“The shorter timeframe means North Carolina won’t be able to most effectively use all of the funding for state and local emergency management programs and public safety efforts.”

You can read a copy of the full complaint below: