A federal judge has ordered the Federal Emergency Management Agency to restore millions of dollars in disaster mitigation funding to North Carolina, a decision that state and local leaders are calling a major win for communities across the state.
More than 60 infrastructure projects statewide are expected to benefit from the restored funding. In Fayetteville alone, about $18 million will be allocated to projects aimed at restoring stream banks and repairing four bridges.
The ruling follows a federal lawsuit filed by North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson, along with several other states, challenging FEMA’s decision to cancel previously approved funding for climate resilience projects. The lawsuit argued that the Trump administration abruptly pulled the funds, stripping roughly $200 million from North Carolina, including $18 million designated for Fayetteville…