FEMA Suspends Emergency Grant Payments, Requiring States to Recount Populations

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has temporarily halted the distribution of over $300 million in emergency preparedness grants, citing concerns over inflated state populations used to allocate funds. The agency now requires states to submit updated population data, excluding individuals removed under U.S. immigration laws, before funds can be released.

The grants, known as Emergency Management Performance Grants, support local disaster preparedness through funding for staff, training, equipment, and public education. Historically, FEMA used U.S. Census data to determine state populations and allocate funds accordingly. However, the new directive marks an unprecedented move by demanding states verify their populations and methodology.

States received notices on Tuesday instructing them to provide a certification of their population count as of September 30, along with details on how the data was gathered. FEMA has stated that funding will be reinstated once the agency reviews and approves each state’s population report.

The move comes amidst ongoing political tensions and legal challenges over federal funding allocations, particularly concerning immigration enforcement policies. A federal judge recently blocked the administration from redirecting FEMA grants away from several Democratic-led states.

FEMA officials have not specified how they will evaluate the submitted population data, and the ongoing government shutdown may further delay the process, as many FEMA employees are furloughed.

Critics warn that these delays threaten critical emergency preparedness efforts. Emergency management leaders emphasize that timely access to these funds is essential to ensuring communities are ready for disasters. The recent changes add additional bureaucratic hurdles, forcing states to rush and adjust their planning under uncertain conditions.