The Honorable Chuck Schumer
Senate Minority Leader
U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Minority Leader Schumer,
Minority Leader Schumer,We are 93 organizations supporting disaster survivors, working for climate resilience, and/or working in communities impacted by floods, wildfires, hurricanes, extreme heat, winter storms, and other disasters. We are writing to urge Senate Democratic leadership to stop the flow of funds to DHS, including through continuing resolutions, until meaningful changes are enacted that will bring an end to the violence and abuse carried out by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Furthermore, disaster survivors and FEMA should not be treated as political leverage in broader fights over DHS funding.
As organizations dedicated to helping Americans prepare for, respond to, and recover from extreme weather and disasters, we have expressed ongoing concerns about how FEMA has been utilized in recent years and the resulting challenges this has created for the agency’s ability to serve communities effectively. In the context of current pressures facing American cities and communities, we are particularly concerned about the combined effects of DHS immigration enforcement policies, which may further strain disaster recovery efforts and affect community safety and trust. Survivors should never be forced to choose between safety from disaster impacts and safety from unlawful actions by federal agents. Unfortunately, DHS’s actions have forced more and more Americans to face this dilemma.
We want to be clear: protecting FEMA’s mission is essential, and concerns about FEMA funding should not be used to justify continued funding for DHS without significant reform. FEMA currently has nearly $27 billion available and a workforce capable of maintaining essential operations, even during federal funding disruptions. Yet, lifesaving recovery and resilience projects are being delayed due to opaque internal
approval processes, leaving disaster-impacted communities stuck in prolonged displacement and facing higher long-term costs. Congress can and should fix this by restoring FEMA as a transparent, efficient, and independent agency outside of DHS’s control so that its lifesaving mission is no longer obstructed or politicized. Moreover, Congress has a clear alternative to fund disaster recovery. It can, and must, pass a disaster supplemental that provides FEMA and HUD long-term recovery funds for 2025 and 2026 disasters, so survivors across the country, including in California, North Carolina, and Texas, can finally receive the long-term assistance they are still waiting for and need.
We require your leadership in defending vulnerable communities and ensuring federal disaster resources prioritize recovery, dignity, and safety. We stand ready to support any effort that strengthens equitable disaster response, protects access to FEMA assistance, and rebuilds trust in our communities by ending these abuses.
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