FEMA cuts disaster aid ahead of shutdown

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Sep 28, 2023 View in browser   By Arianna Skibell Presented by A man walks through floodwaters in Catano, Puerto Rico, on Sept. 21, 2017, after Hurricane Maria devastated the island. | Hector Retamal/AFP/Getty Images The Federal Emergency Management Agency is preparing to withhold $8 billion in disaster recovery funding from states and territories until Congress replenishes its coffers — one of a host of spending decisions mired in the stalemate that’s threatening a government shutdown. Thomas Frank discovered the plan for the self-imposed funding restriction in the fine print of a recent FEMA report. It is intended to ensure the agency can respond to the immediate needs of future emergencies (by clearing roads and sheltering displaced residents, for example) while it waits for Congress to replenish its coffers. But clawing back long-term recovery funds threatens to delay thousands of projects in 27 states and territories aimed at repairing roads, buildings and other facilities damaged by recent disasters. Puerto Rico is projected to suffer the greatest loss. FEMA plans to withhold $2.6 billion, as the financially strained island struggles to rebuild the electric grid, hospitals and other critical facilities still wrecked from Hurricane Maria in 2017, earthquakes in 2020 and Hurricane Fiona in 2022. Florida and Louisiana also face significant impacts from the FEMA restrictions, to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars. How did we get here? President Joe Biden requested $16 billion in emergency disaster cash for the agency’s dwindling Disaster Relief Fund, and FEMA is seeking an additional $20 billion for the fund in the fiscal year that begins Sunday. Money for both requests is stalled, though, as squabbling House Republicans barrel toward Saturday’s midnight deadline to keep the government running. A proposed stopgap bill in the Senate would offer about $6 billion in disaster relief. Meanwhile, a hotter planet is fueling an increase in the frequency and intensity of natural disasters, and recovery efforts and aid are struggling to keep up. Since last month’s devastating wildfires in Hawaii, FEMA has declared at least 15 more major disasters, bringing the total active count to 82 — not to mention pending requests from governors for additional emergency declarations. A senior FEMA official told Thomas that the agency may end up withholding even more money if Congress doesn’t approve new disaster funding on time. Oh, and there are still two months left in hurricane season.   It's Thursday — thank you for tuning in to POLITICO's Power Switch. I'm your host, Arianna Skibell. Power Switch is brought to you by the journalists behind E&E News and POLITICO Energy. Send your tips, comments, questions to askibell@eenews.net. And folks, let’s keep it classy.   A message from bp: Across the US, bp supports more than 275,000 jobs to keep our energy flowing. Like developing an offshore wind farm on the east coast AND producing natural gas with fewer emissions in Texas. See how else bp is investing in America.   Listen to today’s POLITICO Energy podcast Today in POLITICO Energy’s podcast: Ben Lefebvre breaks down why the Biden administration is meeting with African companies to shore up the United States’ supply of the critical minerals needed for the clean energy transition.   A message from bp:   Power Centers A rig and supply vessel can be seen in this 2011 photo in the Gulf of Mexico, off the coast of Louisiana. | Gerald Herbert/AP Photo Biden's plan for offshore oil The Biden administration plans to publish its much-anticipated five-year blueprint for oil and gas drilling off the nation’s coasts, writes Heather Richards. What's inside the plan, which is slated for release despite the looming government shutdown, is somewhat of a mystery. But its contents are certain to draw pushback from either environmentalists or the oil and gas industry. Or both. Green group layoffs The Natural Resources Defense Council, an influential New York-based environmental group, has announced it’s laying off dozens of employees, writes Robin Bravender. Manish Bapna, the organization’s president and CEO, told employees in an email that 6 percent of the group’s staff will be leaving NRDC as part of a “reset.” Can AI drive down carbon? Panelists at POLITICO’s AI & Tech Summit said Wednesday that the potential for rapidly advancing machine learning programs to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions is expansive, writes Corbin Hiar. At the same time, questions remain about how much energy-hungry AI programs will add to the climate challenge. In Other News Elsewhere on the Hill: Eighteen youth climate activists were arrested while protesting a potential government shutdown outside House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s (R-Calif.) office today. Lessons from this summer: How to navigate the unpredictability of travel in the age of climate change.   GROWING IN THE GOLDEN STATE: POLITICO California is growing, reinforcing our role as the indispensable insider source for reporting on politics, policy and power. From the corridors of power in Sacramento and Los Angeles to the players and innovation hubs in Silicon Valley, we're your go-to for navigating the political landscape across the state. Exclusive scoops, essential daily newsletters, unmatched policy reporting and insights — POLITICO California is your key to unlocking Golden State politics. LEARN MORE.     Subscriber Zone A showcase of some of our best subscriber content. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (left) and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy argue a point during a Republican presidential primary debate. | AP Photo / Mark J. Terrill Republican presidential candidates repeatedly circled back to two boogeymen during Wednesday's two-hour debate: Biden and China. Your guide to the energy and environmental programs that could be affected if the government shutters this weekend. Sunnova Energy and the Energy Department’s Loan Programs Office finalized a $3 billion partial loan guarantee to help offer solar power and battery storage to disadvantaged communities. Oil and gas activity grew for the first time this year during the third quarter, according to a poll of energy executives conducted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. That's it for today, folks! Thanks for reading.   Enter the “room where it happens”, where global power players shape policy and politics, with Power Play. POLITICO’s brand-new podcast will host conversations with the leaders and power players shaping the biggest ideas and driving the global conversations, moderated by award-winning journalist Anne McElvoy. Sign up today to be notified of the first episodes in September – click here.       A message from bp: bp’s US workforce – our largest in the world – is keeping oil and gas flowing AND developing more lower carbon energy. It’s our “and, not or” approach at work. Since 2019, our global investment outside of oil & gas has gone from 3% to 30%, and we’re on our way to 50% by 2030. Learn more.     Follow us on Twitter Arianna Skibell @ariannaskibell   Follow us

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