Nearly two months after back-to-back hurricanes devastated parts of the southeastern United States, costing the federal government more than $7.5 billion so far in recovery efforts, Biden administration officials sent a supplemental request to Congress on Monday to urgently fund the nation’s disaster relief coffers. 

What You Need To Know

  • The Office of Management and Budget is requesting roughly $100 for 16 federal agencies to help with natural disaster recovery

  • The Office of Management and Budget is asking for $40 billion for the Department of Homeland Security to bolster the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Disaster Relief Fund

  • Twenty-four billion dollars would go to the Agriculture Department to provide assistance to farmers who have experienced crop and livestock losses from hurricanes, droughts and wildfires

  • The last time Congress passed a comprehensive disaster package was December 2022 as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023

The Office of Management and Budget is requesting roughly $100 billion for more than a dozen federal agencies to help with natural disaster recovery. 

“We need comprehensive disaster relief in order to ensure that our communities can fully recover and rebuild,” Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda Young said during a briefing about the funding request.

She said the response to federally declared disasters includes public assistance, debris removal and individual assistance, but does not factor in long-term recovery efforts such as housing, agriculture loss and transportation infrastructure.

The OMB is requesting $40 billion for the Department of Homeland Security to bolster the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Disaster Relief Fund and $24 billion for the Agriculture Department to assist farmers who have experienced crop and livestock losses from hurricanes, droughts and wildfires. 

It is also requesting $12 billion for the Housing and Urban Development Department to repair damage from Hurricanes Helene and Milton and other severe storms that impacted Alaska, Connecticut, Louisiana, New Mexico, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Illinois and another dozen states this year.

If approved, the Transportation Department, Environmental Protection Agency and Energy Department would receive funds to rebuild and repair roads and bridges as well as energy and water infrastructure. The Small Business Administration would receive $2 billion to provide low-interest disaster loans to businesses and homeowners. The Education Department would get $1 billion to help restart schools impacted by natural disasters.

The last time Congress passed a comprehensive disaster package was December 2022 as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023.

The OMB’s request comes as President-elect Donald Trump is poised to take office and plans to create a "Department of Government Efficiency" led by Tesla founder Elon Musk and former GOP presidential contender Vivek Ramaswamy, who are seeking to cut $2 trillion from the federal budget.