White House Urges Increased Funding for FEMA in Wake of Disasters

The White House is requesting an additional $4 billion in emergency funding from Congress to assist with the costs of recent natural disasters in Hawaii, Florida, and other parts of the country. The initial request for $12 billion was increased to $16 billion due to the fires in Maui and Louisiana, flooding in Vermont, and Hurricane Idalia in Florida. The funding is part of a larger emergency funding request of $44 billion, which includes costs related to the war in Ukraine and migrants at the southern border. Congress is expected to address the request when they return from recess next week.