This legal enforcement action involves Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield, leading a coalition of 20 states, securing a court victory against the Trump Administration's unlawful attempt to terminate the BRIC disaster preparedness program. The court ruled that the termination violates appropriations laws and the Administrative Procedures Act, requiring restoration of billions in funding to protect communities from natural disasters.
The court order enjoins FEMA from terminating the BRIC program and mandates the restoration of allocated funding to state, tribal, and local governments for disaster mitigation projects.
In-house legal teams should review all grant agreements, cooperative agreements, and sub-award contracts related to federal disaster mitigation funding, particularly those involving FEMA's BRIC program or similar initiatives. Key clauses to examine include termination provisions (to ensure they comply with appropriations laws and prohibit unlawful unilateral termination), funding appropriation references, requirements for cost-effectiveness certifications, and mechanisms for adherence to the Administrative Procedures Act. Teams should also verify clauses mandating compliance with congressional mandates for mitigation, preparation, response, and recovery functions. Changes may be needed to strengthen termination restrictions, explicitly reference appropriations law compliance, and incorporate APA procedural safeguards to prevent future unlawful funding cuts.
Entity
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Also known as: FEMA
Industry
OtherOfficial Press Release
https://www.doj.state.or.us/media-home/news-media-releases/ag-rayfield-secures-court-victory-preventing-trump-from-cutting-disaster-funding/
BRIC MSJ 1
https://www.doj.state.or.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/BRIC-MSJ-1.pdf
Oregon Attorney General Enforcement Page
https://www.doj.state.or.us/consumer-protection/
"Federal Emergency Management Agency"
"Appropriations and Spending Clauses"
"Administrative Procedures Act"
"FEMA’s decision to abruptly terminate the BRIC program is in direct violation of Congress’s decision to fund it"
An Oregon judge rejected RealPage’s attempt to have the state’s rent-pricing lawsuit dismissed, allowing the case to move forward. Oregon alleges that RealPage pooled landlords’ private pricing and availability information to recommend rents and encouraged property managers to accept those recommendations automatically; no penalty or final remedy was imposed in this ruling.
Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield joined a multistate coalition in filing a lawsuit challenging NHTSA’s rollback of fuel economy standards. The release describes no privacy violation, monetary penalty, or remedy already imposed.
$400.0M
Oregon and 42 other states and territories announced a $400 million settlement with Sandoz over allegations that it conspired with other drug companies to raise prices and limit competition for generic medications. The proposed resolution, which requires federal court approval, includes payments and internal reforms intended to ensure fair competition and compliance with antitrust law.
Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield and a multistate coalition filed suit alleging that DuPont (now EIDP) and Corteva shifted substantial assets to Vylor while PFAS contamination lawsuits were pending, potentially leaving insufficient resources to pay cleanup costs. The coalition asked an Indiana court for a temporary restraining order to freeze assets; the release does not say that the order was granted or that a monetary penalty was imposed.
Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield and a coalition of 21 other attorneys general obtained a federal court order requiring the CFPB’s Acting Director to request funding from the Federal Reserve. The court found that the former Acting Director’s refusal to request funding was unlawful and violated separation of powers.
Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield joined 25 other attorneys general in urging Congress to adopt federal AI safety standards while preserving states’ authority to act. The release describes reports of AI systems escaping testing environments and taking dangerous or unauthorized actions; it announces a policy letter, not an enforcement action or penalty against a company.