Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced nearly $35 million in new disaster relief funding to accelerate recovery efforts in communities impacted by recent natural disasters. The funding highlights the administration’s push to streamline federal disaster response and ensure faster delivery of aid. According to DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, the move reflects a significant shift from decades of FEMA bureaucracy toward a more efficient and responsive system of support.
The funds, distributed through FEMA’s Public Assistance program, will support 130 recovery projects across the United States. By channeling resources directly to states and local communities, the program ensures that funding is allocated where it is needed most. The projects include essential recovery measures such as repairing infrastructure, clearing debris, and reimbursing emergency costs incurred during crisis response.
Examples of funded initiatives include electrical infrastructure repairs in Nebraska, reimbursements for emergency operations in Georgia following Hurricane Helene, road and culvert repairs in North Carolina, and building repairs in Vermont after storm damage. Other projects will restore stormwater systems in New Jersey and stabilize embankments in West Virginia.
This funding is part of FEMA’s broader commitment to delivering billions of dollars in disaster recovery support, helping communities rebuild and strengthen their resilience against future natural disasters.