Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) has called on Senate leaders to address a looming budget shortfall in the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Disaster Relief Fund (DRF). In a letter sent to Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Susan Collins (R-ME), and Vice Chair Patty Murray (D-WA), Tillis urged immediate action to replenish the fund.
“In March, Congress passed the fiscal year (FY) 2025 Full-Year Continuing Resolution, which again provided additional funding to the DRF. While OMB and DHS publicly maintain that the DRF is solvent through the end of the fiscal year, recent data indicate otherwise. Additionally, state emergency management leaders report sudden delays in reimbursements starting in June in what appears to be an attempt to avoid initiating Immediate Needs Funding (INF) before the end of the fiscal year to avoid exhausting the DRF’s Major Disasters account. This de facto INF posture jeopardizes my state’s recovery, and more concerningly, places FEMA in a precarious financial posture as Congress leaves town for the August state work period,” wrote Senator Tillis.
“As we head into the heart of hurricane and wildfire season, we simply cannot afford to wait until after disaster strikes to provide FEMA the emergency funding necessary to adequately respond. Therefore, I respectfully request that Congress act to replenish the FEMA DRF in the current work period,” Senator Tillis concluded.
The full text of Senator Tillis’ letter is available online.
Earlier this summer, Senator Tillis introduced legislation aimed at providing $25 billion for FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund. The bill seeks to ensure FEMA has sufficient resources ahead of peak natural disaster periods and aligns with President Trump’s prior funding request for Congress.
Senator Tillis has previously secured electoral victories in North Carolina. In 2020, he won against Cal Cunningham by a margin of 48.7% to 46.9%. In 2014, he defeated Kay Hagan with 48.8% of votes compared to Hagan’s 47.3%.
