Key facts
- U.S. Democratic lawmakers met with Puerto Rico mayors to address disaster recovery.
- Concerns include delays in federal reimbursements and project approvals.
- A previous Homeland Security policy requiring personal approval for expenditures over $100,000 exacerbated delays.
- The policy was rescinded, but recovery challenges persist.
- FEMA's workforce has been reduced, impacting its ability to process aid.
- Puerto Rico has received nearly $43 billion in federal funds for disaster recovery.
A delegation of U.S. Democratic lawmakers visited Puerto Rico to address the slow pace of disaster recovery, pledging to expedite federal aid. During a two-day trip, legislators met with local mayors who voiced concerns over delayed reimbursements and project approvals, particularly those impacted by a former Homeland Security policy requiring personal sign-off for expenditures over $100,000.
Mississippi Rep. Bennie G. Thompson, ranking member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, stated that the lawmakers would work to implement corrective actions to improve the system. Puerto Rico's representative in Congress, Pablo José Hernández, highlighted the mayors' concerns, noting that while the restrictive policy was rescinded in April, recovery efforts for hurricanes Maria and Fiona, and a series of earthquakes, continue to face challenges.
Thompson also pointed to a reduction in FEMA's workforce, which he believes hinders the processing of aid applications. He emphasized FEMA's crucial role in times of need when local resources are overwhelmed, as has been the case with the repeated natural disasters affecting the island.
Puerto Rico is still recovering from Hurricane Maria in September 2017, which caused extensive damage and an estimated 2,982 deaths, and Hurricane Fiona in September 2022. Additionally, earthquakes in late 2019 and early 2020 caused an estimated $3 billion in damage. As of the latest reports, nearly $43 billion in federal funds have been allocated, with $12.7 billion disbursed. However, approximately 30% of recovery projects remain pending, with bottlenecks in project approvals contributing to rising costs. A February 2024 audit by the U.S. Government Accountability Office found that the Puerto Rican government had spent less than 10% of the over $23 billion in federal funds available at that time, citing issues such as rising costs, labor shortages, and supply chain disruptions.