The House Freedom Caucus, an ultra-conservative group known for pushing back on decisions by its party’s leadership, announced that it would not support President Joe Biden’s request for nearly $100 billion in additional disaster relief aid following damaging hurricanes in the Southeast this fall.  

What You Need To Know

  • The House Freedom Caucus, an ultra-conservative group known for pushing back on decisions by its party’s leadership, announced that it would not support President Joe Biden’s request for nearly $100 billion in additional disaster relief aid
  • Instead, the group is proposing only providing additional funding that is "absolutely necessary” for hurricane survivors and farmers at the moment before waiting for Trump to take office in January and “better manage disaster relief"
  • House Freedom Caucus members also want to offset any additional dollars provided for disaster relief by cutting government spending elsewhere 
  • After Hurricanes Helene and Milton ripped through the Southeast this fall, leaving more than 200 people dead and causing billions of dollars in damages, Biden last month sent Congress a supplemental request asking it to approve nearly $100 billion in federal funds to help communities recover from recent storms

“Congress should not pass a whopping $100 billion unpaid disaster supplemental funding bill — that Democrats will use to cement their own unrelated priorities — in the waning days of Democrat control in Washington right before Republicans take control of the White House and both Chambers," the Freedom Caucus wrote in a statement released Wednesday evening. 

Instead, the group is proposing only providing additional funding that is "absolutely necessary” at the moment for hurricane survivors and farmers before waiting for Trump to take office in January and “better manage disaster relief.” Freedom Caucus members also want to offset any additional dollars provided for disaster relief by cutting government spending elsewhere. 

As the group mentioned, Republicans are set to have a trifecta in Washington next year after winning a majority in the House and Senate and Trump securing the White House. 

After Hurricanes Helene and Milton ripped through the Southeast this fall, leaving more than 200 people dead and causing billions of dollars in damages, Biden last month sent Congress a supplemental request asking it to approve nearly $100 billion in federal funds to help communities recover from recent storms. 

The administration said the money would replenish FEMA’s disaster relief fund, provide billions to aid farmers who have experienced crop and livestock losses from hurricanes, assist with the rebuilding of roads, bridges and other damaged infrastructure, allow loans to be given to small businesses and help schools restart. 

In the midst of the storms, Biden urged Congress to “immediately” allocate more funds to aid survivors and called on lawmakers to pause their more than six-week pre-election break, which they were on at the time, if necessary. Several other Congressional lawmakers, including some Republicans, also urged their colleagues to take immediate action to aid survivors. 

At the time, House Republican Speaker Mike Johnson repeatedly pushed back on the idea that it was necessary to call his members back early to designate more funds but said they would address it when they returned. 

Other Republican lawmakers in the Senate have proposed plans to ask their colleagues to designate more funds for disaster aid. 

It is possible that any additional funds for disaster relief could be attached to legislation to avert a government shutdown. Congress has to either pass a full budget or a short-term patch known as a continuing resolution by Dec. 20 to avoid the government shutting down.