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FEMA backlog delays over $191 million in California resilience projects

CBS News reports FEMA is behind on more than $191 million in Southern California resilience projects, and emergency management sources say no pending California projects were approved this year.

Published Nov 6, 2026 · 15:48 UTC1 reports

The short version

  • FEMA is behind on approving Southern California infrastructure projects totaling more than $191 million, according to CBS News.[CBS News]
  • The projects depend on the BRIC program, which the administration canceled in March 2025 with little rationale, a GAO official said.[CBS News]
  • A federal judge ordered FEMA to continue BRIC in spring 2026 after California and 19 other states sued, but unnamed sources say no pending California projects were approved this year.[CBS News]
  • A GAO report puts the nationwide backlog at $2.2 billion, while Rep. Pete Aguilar says California aid is being withheld.[CBS News]

Key facts

  • FEMA is behind on approving major Southern California infrastructure projects totaling more than $191 million.[CBS News]
  • The projects are meant to be funded by FEMA's Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program.[CBS News]
  • California and 19 other states sued over the BRIC cancellation, and in spring 2026 a federal judge ordered FEMA to continue the program.[CBS News]
  • A GAO report released in September says the nationwide backlog of projects totals $2.2 billion.[CBS News]
  • California has the most pending projects of any state, some first submitted in 2022.[CBS News]
  • A San Bernardino flood control project priced at $15 million is among the pending California projects.[CBS News]

What remains uncertain

  • Claims that no pending California BRIC projects were approved this year come from unnamed emergency management sources and are reported by CBS News alone.[CBS News]
  • Rep. Pete Aguilar's allegation that California aid is being withheld is his own characterization, not an established finding.[CBS News]
  • The reporting does not say when, or whether, stalled California approvals will move forward.[CBS News]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.