Biden Increases Request for Disaster Relief Funds to $16 Billion

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The Biden administration has revised its supplemental funding request for disaster relief, now asking for an additional $4 billion. This amendment elevates the total request to $16 billion, reflecting the escalating costs imposed on U.S. taxpayers by the intensification of natural disasters such as wildfires, floods, and hurricanes amid the ongoing climate crisis.

Initially, the administration had sought $12 billion in supplementary funding for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) disaster relief fund, aimed at aiding in rescue and relief operations. However, according to Shelby Wagenseller, a policy analyst in the Office of Management and Budget, the recent natural disasters including wildfires in Hawaii and Louisiana, flooding in Vermont, and the impact of Hurricane Idalia on Florida and other southeastern states, have necessitated a total of $16 billion in funding.

As recently as the preceding Tuesday, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell had insisted that the initial $12 billion allocation would suffice to cover the agency’s requirements until the conclusion of the current fiscal year. During a press briefing at the White House, Criswell stated that the original sum was intended as a “bridge to get us through the end of the fiscal year.”

She further added, “If we witness a continuation of storms, we will rigorously monitor the health of the disaster relief fund to assess if additional funding may be required. As of the current situation, the supplemental request will adequately cover us until the fiscal year’s end.”

However, President Joe Biden, during a visit to FEMA’s Washington offices on Thursday, advocated for an increase in the funding request. He stressed the urgency of fulfilling this disaster relief request within the month of September. In addressing the reluctance of some lawmakers to approve the funding, the President expressed confusion, stating, “I am uncertain as to the rationale behind their hesitance.”

Subsequent to President Biden’s remarks, the Office of Management and Budget announced an augmentation of the supplemental funding request by an additional $4 billion. This updated proposal also encompasses financial assistance for Ukraine in its conflict against Russia, as well as initiatives to combat the growing fentanyl crisis.

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More about Disaster Relief Funding

• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
• Office of Management and Budget
• Climate Change and Natural Disasters
• Conflict in Ukraine
• The Fentanyl Crisis in America