A group of House Republicans led by Rep. Gary Palmer, R-Ala., is working on a new bill to reorganize how funds are managed at FEMA in order to provide quicker aid to communities affected by Hurricane Helene. The proposal involves moving unspent funds from the COVID-19 pandemic and funds earmarked for previous natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina into the FEMA Disaster Relief Fund.
This initiative comes just before the House Oversight Committee’s hearing on allegations of politicization of FEMA aid. House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer, R-Ky., expressed concerns over reports that a FEMA official instructed relief workers to avoid homes showing support for President Donald Trump. The committee believes this behavior is unacceptable and may not be an isolated incident within the agency.
Rep. Palmer’s bill has garnered support from a wide range of GOP lawmakers, indicating bipartisan efforts to address the issue. The goal is to provide immediate financial support to FEMA’s disaster fund, especially in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, which caused significant devastation in parts of the U.S. Southeast.
FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell has stated that the agency will require an additional $40 billion in funding beyond its 2025 budget request to support ongoing recovery efforts and meet mission requirements. The White House has also requested $98 billion in additional disaster relief funding from Congress to address the aftermath of Hurricane Helene and other recent natural disasters.
In response to the urgent need for disaster relief funding, congressional leaders from both parties have pledged to act swiftly upon receiving a formal request from the Biden administration. The devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, which resulted in over 100 deaths in North Carolina and billions of dollars in damage, underscores the critical need for immediate financial assistance to affected communities.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has highlighted the severity of Hurricane Helene, suggesting that it could be one of the costliest storms in U.S. history. The proposed overhaul of FEMA funds by House Republicans aims to streamline the allocation of resources and ensure that communities receive timely and effective assistance in times of crisis.