A source familiar with the situation told The Hill that billions in combined public assistance and hazard mitigation funds are being awarded from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and that the funds were previously held up under Noem's policy of personally reviewing major expenditures.
FEMA's public assistance funds help communities recover from disasters, while its hazard mitigation funds help communities better prepare for future disasters.
The source said that more than $10 billion in public assistance funds are still awaiting approval.
The source also said that Minnesota, Illinois, California, Colorado and the Virgin Islands are the only U.S. states and territories that would not receive public assistance awards in the tranche of funding.
Spokespeople for FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees FEMA, did not immediately respond to The Hill's request for comment.
However, a FEMA spokesperson confirmed to CNN, which first reported that some of the funds would be released, that it was doling out more than $5 billion.
"This week, FEMA released over $5 billion in recovery funding for projects, some dating back as far as 15 years — a significant win for states, local governments, and hospitals," the spokesperson said. "To be clear, this is about results, not politics."
"Regarding which projects are being funded, FEMA is prioritizing based on project readiness and strict oversight. Obligations are made when projects meet all necessary criteria. Decisions are not based on political considerations; the process is focused on merit and accountability," they told CNN.
The DHS is requiring that all expenditures of more than $100,000 — including but not limited to FEMA funds — get Noem's personal approval before their release.
Read more at TheHill.com.
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