House Freedom Caucus Opposes $98 Billion Disaster Aid Request

The U.S. Capitol in Washington on Nov. 19. Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times

WASHINGTON–The House Freedom Caucus on Dec. 4 called for Congress to reject a disaster relief funding request for $98.4 billion in the wake of Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

Helene hit the southeastern United States in late September, and Milton hit Florida’s west coast in early October, causing billions in damage.

President Joe Biden requested lawmakers to approve more than $98.4 billion for supplemental disaster relief in a Nov. 18 letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.).

This included $40 billion in disaster relief funds, $24 billion for the Department of Agriculture to assist farmers, $12 billion for the Department of Housing and Urban Development to address storm damage, $8.14 billion for the Department of Transportation to repair roads, and $4.14 billion for the Environmental Protection Agency for water system upgrades.

The conservative caucus said that instead of approving the funding request as is, Congress should ensure responsible spending by first identifying the truly necessary amount of disaster relief in light of the hurricanes, which caused significant damage in states including Florida and North Carolina.

“The House should consider only what is absolutely necessary right now to provide critical relief to hurricane victims and farmers, and pay for it with offsets from wasteful spending elsewhere in the government, then wait for President Trump to take office to better manage disaster relief,” said the group in a Dec. 4 statement.

Biden’s funding request appears to have bipartisan support in Congress.

“We’re going to continue to provide for the American people with the resources that are desperately needed,” Johnson told reporters on Nov. 19. “These communities can be rebuilt responsibly, and Congress has a role to play in all that.”

Senate President pro tempore and Senate Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Patty Murray (D-Wash.) said on Nov. 13 that “getting a comprehensive, bipartisan disaster relief package negotiated and passed as soon as possible must be a priority.”

It is unclear how much supplemental disaster relief would be added to a government funding bill, if any. It is expected that Congress will pass a continuing resolution to fund the government at current spending levels through early next year.

Trump, despite quickly filling out his Cabinet and other senior positions, has not announced a nominee to head the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which is responsible for providing disaster relief. The FEMA falls under the Department of Homeland Security. South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem is Trump’s nominee to lead the department.

House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro criticized the Freedom Caucus for its statement.

“I’m hoping that this is an aberration,” DeLauro told reporters on Dec. 5.

Congress did not pass supplemental disaster relief before recessing ahead of the Nov. 5 election.

Meanwhile, Congress is considering a bill to keep the government open as current funding runs through Dec. 20.