Graves, Perry ask FEMA for details on how $110 billion in disaster funds were spent in COVID response

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO) and Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Subcommittee Chairman Scott Perry (R-PA) wrote to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Deanne Criswell asking for an accounting of the more than $110 billion from FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) that has been used in response to the COVID-19 emergency declarations.

Graves and Perry asked for information detailing DRF assistance provided under the COVID-19 declarations, outstanding requests for assistance, and associated administrative costs, as well as the justification for extending the COVID-19 declarations incident period to May 2023. DRF funds were first made available by 2020 major disaster and emergency declarations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“In light of the billions of dollars distributed through the DRF, we request information regarding FEMA’s accounting of these funds, and information regarding FEMA’s protocols to ensure taxpayer resources are not subject to waste, fraud, or abuse,” the lawmakers wrote. “We owe it to the American people to ensure DRF funds are appropriately and responsibly utilized.”

The chairmen requested a response from FEMA by Friday, February 27, 2023.