Winter storms collide with shutdown fight, putting pressure on FEMA
Are they actually going to vote on something real?
Heavy snow, grounded flights, and school closures across the Northeast are adding urgency to Washington’s fight over Homeland Security funding, with the Federal Emergency Management Agency facing new operational strain as a partial shutdown drags on.
The latest winter storm has dumped more than 30 inches of snow in some areas, with at least five states reporting totals of more than 2 feet. Providence, Rhode Island, is experiencing its largest snowstorm on record, while New York City and Philadelphia are seeing their heaviest snowfall in years.
As the partial DHS shutdown stretches on amid a funding standoff in Congress, internal agency directives have paused disaster-response travel nationwide, according to agency communications and people familiar with the decision, leaving hundreds of FEMA personnel awaiting deployment even as severe weather unfolds. The stop-travel order took effect Feb. 18 and applies to DHS-funded travel for the duration of the funding lapse, according to internal messages.
The decision came as roughly 300 FEMA personnel were preparing for deployment before being told to stand down, according to reports.
The travel restrictions stem from broader DHS efforts to conserve resources during the funding lapse. In a Feb. 22 statement, the agency said it would take steps to manage operations ahead of a potential shutdown.
Under FEMA’s emergency operating status, the agency has shifted to bare-minimum, life-saving operations, according to internal guidance. Beginning Feb. 22, FEMA halted non-essential activities, paused most non-emergency recovery work, and limited travel and deployments to active disasters where there is an immediate threat to life, public health, or safety. Funding for ongoing recovery projects, long-term planning, and new initiatives has largely been put on hold until monetary support is restored.
Funding for emergency declarations and disaster response remains available through FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund, a separate account unaffected by the DHS funding lapse. The fund held roughly $7 billion as of December.
“The Disaster Relief Fund allows FEMA to work no matter if there’s a shutdown or not,” a former FEMA official told the Washington Examiner, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss the situation candidly. “But when you say nobody can travel, even for active disasters, that really hampers operations.”
“Any new disasters, they can’t travel like they normally would to work with state and local …
Are they actually going to vote on something real?
Heavy snow, grounded flights, and school closures across the Northeast are adding urgency to Washington’s fight over Homeland Security funding, with the Federal Emergency Management Agency facing new operational strain as a partial shutdown drags on.
The latest winter storm has dumped more than 30 inches of snow in some areas, with at least five states reporting totals of more than 2 feet. Providence, Rhode Island, is experiencing its largest snowstorm on record, while New York City and Philadelphia are seeing their heaviest snowfall in years.
As the partial DHS shutdown stretches on amid a funding standoff in Congress, internal agency directives have paused disaster-response travel nationwide, according to agency communications and people familiar with the decision, leaving hundreds of FEMA personnel awaiting deployment even as severe weather unfolds. The stop-travel order took effect Feb. 18 and applies to DHS-funded travel for the duration of the funding lapse, according to internal messages.
The decision came as roughly 300 FEMA personnel were preparing for deployment before being told to stand down, according to reports.
The travel restrictions stem from broader DHS efforts to conserve resources during the funding lapse. In a Feb. 22 statement, the agency said it would take steps to manage operations ahead of a potential shutdown.
Under FEMA’s emergency operating status, the agency has shifted to bare-minimum, life-saving operations, according to internal guidance. Beginning Feb. 22, FEMA halted non-essential activities, paused most non-emergency recovery work, and limited travel and deployments to active disasters where there is an immediate threat to life, public health, or safety. Funding for ongoing recovery projects, long-term planning, and new initiatives has largely been put on hold until monetary support is restored.
Funding for emergency declarations and disaster response remains available through FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund, a separate account unaffected by the DHS funding lapse. The fund held roughly $7 billion as of December.
“The Disaster Relief Fund allows FEMA to work no matter if there’s a shutdown or not,” a former FEMA official told the Washington Examiner, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss the situation candidly. “But when you say nobody can travel, even for active disasters, that really hampers operations.”
“Any new disasters, they can’t travel like they normally would to work with state and local …
Winter storms collide with shutdown fight, putting pressure on FEMA
Are they actually going to vote on something real?
Heavy snow, grounded flights, and school closures across the Northeast are adding urgency to Washington’s fight over Homeland Security funding, with the Federal Emergency Management Agency facing new operational strain as a partial shutdown drags on.
The latest winter storm has dumped more than 30 inches of snow in some areas, with at least five states reporting totals of more than 2 feet. Providence, Rhode Island, is experiencing its largest snowstorm on record, while New York City and Philadelphia are seeing their heaviest snowfall in years.
As the partial DHS shutdown stretches on amid a funding standoff in Congress, internal agency directives have paused disaster-response travel nationwide, according to agency communications and people familiar with the decision, leaving hundreds of FEMA personnel awaiting deployment even as severe weather unfolds. The stop-travel order took effect Feb. 18 and applies to DHS-funded travel for the duration of the funding lapse, according to internal messages.
The decision came as roughly 300 FEMA personnel were preparing for deployment before being told to stand down, according to reports.
The travel restrictions stem from broader DHS efforts to conserve resources during the funding lapse. In a Feb. 22 statement, the agency said it would take steps to manage operations ahead of a potential shutdown.
Under FEMA’s emergency operating status, the agency has shifted to bare-minimum, life-saving operations, according to internal guidance. Beginning Feb. 22, FEMA halted non-essential activities, paused most non-emergency recovery work, and limited travel and deployments to active disasters where there is an immediate threat to life, public health, or safety. Funding for ongoing recovery projects, long-term planning, and new initiatives has largely been put on hold until monetary support is restored.
Funding for emergency declarations and disaster response remains available through FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund, a separate account unaffected by the DHS funding lapse. The fund held roughly $7 billion as of December.
“The Disaster Relief Fund allows FEMA to work no matter if there’s a shutdown or not,” a former FEMA official told the Washington Examiner, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss the situation candidly. “But when you say nobody can travel, even for active disasters, that really hampers operations.”
“Any new disasters, they can’t travel like they normally would to work with state and local …
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