US EditionState emergency officials say new rules and delays for FEMA grants put disaster response at risk
New York faced a 79% FEMA grant cut and Illinois 69%, causing states to delay emergency preparations amid funding freezes and legal disputes, officials said.
- On October 19, 2025, state crisis managers warned that severe cuts, restrictions, and funding delays from the Federal Emergency Management Agency pose a growing risk and prompt states to prepare for a different relationship with FEMA.
- FEMA reduced recipients' spending window from three years to one and the Trump administration suspended a $3.6 billion resilience program, cutting FEMA's workforce and disrupting training.
- A Manhattan federal judge last week ordered DHS and FEMA to restore $34 million in transit security grants withheld from New York City, while New York state lost $100 million and Illinois saw a 69% cut.
- State and local agencies are pausing hiring and purchases as a federal judge in Rhode Island's order forced FEMA to rescind awards and halt payments, while Hawaii warns of contractor delays and possible furloughs after the wildfire killed more than 100 people.
- Given the uncertainty, states are seeking to be less reliant on federal funding as the National Emergency Management Association says risk methodology is unclear and emergency managers object to certifying revised population counts that the Department of Homeland Security links to deportations.
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Michigan may lose $30M for emergency response and terrorism prevention, prompting lawsuit
“The White House continues again and again to pull the rug out from under us, putting the safety of our communities in jeopardy,” said Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel in a press release.
'Grant purgatory' is a growing risk to crisis response, and the government shutdown isn't helping, state emergency officials say
State officials on the front lines of preparing for natural disasters and responding to emergencies say severe cuts to federal security grants, restrictions on money intended for readiness and funding delays tied to litigation are posing a growing risk to their ability to respond to crises. It’s all causing confusion, frustration and concern. The federal government shutdown isn’t helping. “Every day we remain in this grant purgatory reduces the …
U.S. state officials: FEMA cuts raise risks
State officials on the front lines of preparing for natural disasters and responding to emergencies say severe cuts to federal security grants, restrictions on money intended for readiness and funding delays tied to litigation are posing a growing risk to their ability to respond to crises. Read more...
Associated Press News
State emergency officials say new rules and delays for FEMA grants put disaster response at risk
State emergency management officials say they're facing funding challenges from the federal government that threaten the country's ability to respond to crises.
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