In a legal development in Washington, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) has initiated a lawsuit against the Trump administration, challenging the suspension of funds intended for enhancing the nation’s emergency alert system. The CPB claims that this pause in financial grants crucially affects federal, state, and local authorities’ capacity to deliver timely emergency alerts.
The nonprofit CPB filed the lawsuit against the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) over the hold placed on February 18th regarding a $40 million grant program aimed at the Next Generation Warning System. At the time of reporting, FEMA has not provided an explanation or comment concerning the suspension of these grant payments.
The Emergency Alert System (EAS) plays a vital role in disseminating alerts for various natural disasters such as flash floods, blizzards, tornados, and hurricanes, effectively aiding government officials in communicating emergencies to the public rapidly.
Established in 1967 by Congress, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting serves as the primary funding source for public radio and television, allocating over 70% of its fund to support more than 1,500 public broadcasting stations across the nation. In cooperation with FEMA, the CPB manages the Next Generation Warning System grant program, which supports public media stations in upgrading their emergency alert equipment. Currently, the program encompasses over 40 grant recipients.
Kathy Merritt, an official from CPB, expressed concern, noting that FEMA has not communicated any specific timeline or assurance that the program’s funds might be resumed. “To safeguard public media stations from financial distress, CPB finds itself with no option but to seek legal remedy against FEMA as per the Administrative Procedure Act,” Merritt conveyed in an official statement.
As part of the legal action, the CPB is urging the court to direct FEMA to immediately revoke the hold, facilitating reimbursement to both the corporation and the grant recipients for incurred expenses. The filing further articulates that FEMA’s hold on the grant program has rendered public media stations across the U.S. liable for approximately $1.9 million in outstanding unreimbursed expenses.
The lawsuit underscores that at no point has FEMA implied any wrongdoing by the CPB regarding the grant nor indicated any intention to cancel it or take other adverse actions.
