Maryland moved to protect emergency management funding and continuity this week as Attorney General Anthony Brown filed a lawsuit challenging new federal restrictions on FEMA preparedness grants that counties rely on to plan, respond to, and recover from disasters.
Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown filed suit this week, joining a coalition of states pushing back on new conditions tied to FEMA’s core preparedness and homeland security grants.
State attorneys general argue the federal government cannot retroactively change grant terms or block funds already awarded for emergency management responsibilities.
As previously reported on Conduit Street, the legal action comes as counties already face uncertain timelines, frozen awards, and evolving administrative requirements across federal emergency programs.
Maryland Pushes Back on New Grant Terms
The lawsuit challenges what state leaders describe as unlawful last-minute grant restrictions imposed by the federal government on long-standing programs, including the Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) and the Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP). These programs form the backbone of Maryland’s emergency management operations, supporting local emergency planning, response, and homeland security efforts.
“When emergencies strike, communities need resources to act quickly and save lives,” Attorney General Brown said in announcing the lawsuit. “We will not allow the Trump administration to threaten Marylanders’ safety by putting unlawful restrictions on grants that protect them from disasters and security threats.”
The filing argues that the federal government exceeded its authority by placing new conditions on grant funding that states already planned and budgeted for. Maryland and its partners state that the terms are impossible to meet and diverge from established federal practice, thereby limiting the state and local agencies’ ability to deploy funds for ongoing and future emergency management priorities.
A Compounding Funding Landscape
This court action arrives amid broader disruption to FEMA’s preparedness programs, and follows several weeks of turbulence affecting county emergency managers and public safety partners.
As previously reported on Conduit Street, emergency managers are currently navigating:
- Frozen federal grant disbursements linked to nationwide litigation
- Administrative holds tied to new DHS terms and certification requirements
- Steep cuts to specified programs, including a dramatic drop in National Capital Region UASI funding
- Shortened spending windows and retroactive compliance shifts
- Delayed drawdowns due to the federal shutdown
Federal changes already delay reimbursements and strain planning, staffing, and response timelines for county emergency managers.
EMPG and HSGP dollars help support core functions at the Maryland Department of Emergency Management and county emergency offices across the state. Previous awards funded responses to the Potomac River air disaster and catastrophic flash flooding in Western Maryland, the type of rapid response that depends on predictable federal support.
What Happens Next
Maryland and its coalition partners filed the case in the US District Court for the District of Oregon. Attorneys general from eleven other states and the Governor of Kentucky also joined the lawsuit. The coalition seeks to restore access to awarded funding and block federal agencies from enforcing new grant terms that disrupt emergency management operations.
Counties continue to brace for additional federal developments as courts and agencies determine the future of significant preparedness programs and reimbursement mechanisms. MACo will monitor this litigation and its impact on county emergency management funding, timelines, and compliance requirements.
Stay tuned to Conduit Street for more information.
Previous Conduit Street Coverage
Grant Freezes, Legal Fights, and Shifting Rules Deepen Turmoil for County Emergency Managers
#MACoCon Recap — FEMA Fallout: Facing Federal Funding Flux
No Help on the Way: FEMA Refuses Aid After Devastating Western Maryland Floods
As FEMA Communications Break Down, Counties Face Growing Uncertainty
State Activates New Disaster Fund for Allegany Flood Recovery
Governor Moore Declares Emergency After Historic Western Maryland Floods
Conduit Street Podcast: Disaster Dollars in Danger — Federal Funding Fades, County Risks Rise
County Emergency Managers to Congress: Protect FEMA, Restore BRIC
FEMA Cancels Resilience Grants, Leaving Counties at Risk
MACo Winter Conference Session: Preparedness in Peril — Rethinking Readiness as Federal Stability Falters
The lawsuit highlights the increasing volatility that counties face as federal grant programs shift without notice, creating urgent pressure on local emergency management budgets, staffing, and planning cycles. At this year’s MACo Winter Conference, an expert panel will examine these federal stresses, outline strategies to protect preparedness capabilities, and help county leaders navigate FEMA’s evolving requirements and uncertain timelines.
MACo’s Winter Conference, “Local Leadership, Lasting Impact: Shaping What’s Next,” will be held at the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Hotel in Cambridge, MD, on December 10-12, 2025.
Learn more about MACo’s Winter Conference:
- Attendee Registration Guide – PLEASE READ! (new registration system)
- Attendee Brochure (with full schedule)
- Exhibitor Registration Guide – PLEASE READ! (new registration system)
- 2024 Winter Conference Photos (see what it’s like!)
- Questions? Contact Virginia White
