Biden’s $100 Billion Surprise – Is Congress Ready for This Game-Changing Move?

The Biden administration is urging Congress to pass a new funding request for disaster relief and recovery, totaling about $100 billion. This request, which President Joe Biden outlined in a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) on Monday, includes $40 billion to replenish the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)’s Disaster Relief Fund and an additional $2 billion for the Small Business Administration’s disaster loan assistance program.

In the wake of Hurricanes Milton and Helene, White House officials have emphasized the urgent need to replenish federal disaster programs, as the cleanup efforts are expected to continue into the new year. Shalanda Young, director of the Office of Management and Budget, and FEMA Director Deanne Criswell spoke to reporters on a call, highlighting a bipartisan push to advance disaster relief funds.

Earlier in the day, three North Carolina lawmakers—Senators Ted Budd (R-NC), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Representative Chuck Edwards (R-NC)—sent a letter to President Biden urging him to accelerate the funding for the victims of Helene and Milton. The letter, which was co-signed by four Democratic senators—Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), and Mark Warner (D-VA)—demonstrates a rare moment of bipartisan support for disaster relief.

However, the Biden administration faces challenges in pushing the full request through Congress before January, especially with Republicans set to retake the Senate and President-elect Donald Trump preparing for his second term. Concerns have also been raised by some Republicans about FEMA’s handling of disaster relief. Senator Tillis attempted to pass disaster relief funding through unanimous consent on the Senate floor last week but was blocked by Senator Rand Paul (R-KY).

Despite these obstacles, the Biden administration remains hopeful. “I’m not surprised that Speaker Johnson, my fellow Louisianian, has, in his own words, given people comfort that funding is on the way and there’s no room for politics and disaster relief,” Young said on Monday. “As President Biden has said, there are no Democrats, there are no Republicans when it comes to delivering this relief. With Congress back in session, the Biden-Harris administration stands ready to work with lawmakers to deliver the vital resources our communities need and expect with strong, bipartisan and bicameral support.”

Criswell also addressed the massive scale of the recovery efforts, noting that FEMA has already spent more than $7.5 billion on relief for Hurricanes Milton and Helene, making it one of the most expensive natural disaster cleanups in the last two decades. “Our agency’s mission is to help people before, during, and after disasters, no matter who they are or where they live, and this is more crucial to the American people now than ever before, and we are quickly running out of the funding we need to support this mission,” Criswell said. “We will always prioritize funding for life-saving and life-sustaining activities. FEMA continues to monitor the DRF (Disaster Relief Fund) balances daily to determine if we need to shift again to an immediate needs funding posture to continue to support the urgent needs of the communities that we serve.”

In addition to the $40 billion for FEMA and $2 billion for the SBA, Biden’s request also includes funding for several other federal departments and agencies. The Department of Agriculture would receive $24 billion, the Department of Housing and Urban Development would get $12 billion, and the Department of Transportation would receive $8 billion. Other agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Health and Human Services, and the Army Corps of Engineers are also set to receive additional funding to aid in the recovery process.

Meanwhile, FEMA is facing scrutiny over allegations that it avoided helping Florida residents who had yard signs supporting Trump. A whistleblower, Marn’i Washington, claimed that FEMA deliberately ignored houses with Trump signs to avoid confrontation. Florida has since filed a lawsuit against FEMA over these allegations, and the Biden administration is conducting an internal investigation. Criswell is expected to testify before Congress later this week on the issue. During Monday’s briefing, senior administration officials declined to comment further on the claims, but Criswell is set to appear before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on Tuesday.

The controversy surrounding the whistleblower’s claims has intensified as the Department of Homeland Security’s Freedom of Information Act request continues to gather information on the matter. With tensions rising, all eyes are now on Congress as it deliberates the future of disaster relief funding amid a turbulent political landscape.