Trump officials limit FEMA travel to disaster areas amid funding lapse, emails show
Source: Washington Post
February 18, 2026 at 1:37 p.m. EST
The Department of Homeland Security has halted almost all travel amid the ongoing standoff over its funding, restricting the ability of some Federal Emergency Management Agency staff to move in and out of disaster-affected areas, according to emails and documents obtained by The Washington Post.
Much of the department ran out of money over the weekend after negotiations stalled between the White House and Democratic lawmakers over restrictions on federal immigration enforcement. It is normal for the department to stop employees from traveling across the country for various assignments, such as trainings, during a funding lapse, 10 current and former FEMA officials said.
But it is unusual for a government shutdown to impede ongoing disaster recovery efforts, the officials explained, saying it further reflects sweeping policies instituted under Homeland Security Secretary Kristi L. Noem. Typically, some FEMA staffers ability to travel to and from ongoing disaster recovery projects is unaffected by DHS funding. And usually, disaster travel is always allowed because it is mission-critical, a current veteran official said.
Officials from DHS and FEMA did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday.
Read more: www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2026/02/18/fema-travel-pause-dhs-funding/
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bluestarone
(21,767 posts)ICE get's unlimited money!!
Lovie777
(22,407 posts)to fortified a private military to terrorize US citizens while ignoring natural and man made disasters.
EVIL
Now the Republican party want to rid our right to vote, healthcare subsides is dead for over 20 million and the cost of living is still rising.