Local officials were stunned to learn that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has denied an extension of funding past the 120 day deadline, prompting Gov. Brian Kemp to step in and allocate state funds to cover any shortfall.
Since then, the rumor mill has political sides pointing fingers.
Some have concluded that the funding cut-off was the work of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and others point out the terribly slow response to the devastation in North Carolina caused by Hurricane Helene, making the case that FEMA ignored the state intentionally because North Carolinians voted for Trump.
There is no evidence that Elon Musk and his department directed FEMA to stop the funding to Georgia; however, it would be plausible to assume that FEMA cut the funds in anticipation of DOGE steamrolling in with their red pencils as they have done with other agencies.
Either way, politics have absolutely no place in disaster relief.
This is not the first time that FEMA has been accused of cowing to political pressure at the executive level to the detriment of the well-being of citizens. This is a problem that goes back as far as Hurricane Katrina and before. In that case, the Bush administration was accused of ignoring poor minority areas in the rebuilding efforts.
Congress needs to take another look at how FEMA operates and transform that agency to be little more than a conduit of funding to the area affected. States should be able to apply for the monetary assistance and then receive it posthaste without strings in a lump sum, rather than face a mountain of paperwork and then receive checks in a piecemeal fashion months after the disaster occurred.
This was the intention of Congress when the agency was formed, that is why FEMA’s budget is largely supplemental, that is, it can be adjusted at any time throughout the year based on need.
There should not even be the hint of meddling with the funding by the executive branch based on political considerations. Any reform of FEMA needs to come directly from Congress, not DOGE or any other executive branch agency.
We strongly urge you to contact our representatives and senators and demand this reform take place.
