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Sen. Ted Budd Blocks DHS Nominee Over Delayed Hurricane Helene Funds

Budd threatens blanket holds on DHS confirmations to force faster FEMA reimbursements for Western North Carolina.

Senator Ted Budd in the basement of the Capitol Building in Washington, DC, on July 31.
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Ted Budd speaks on border security and Title 42 during a press conference at the U.S. Capitol on May 11, 2023 in Washington, D.C.
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Overview

  • North Carolina’s Ted Budd was the lone Republican to join Democrats in a failed filibuster of Robert Law’s nomination for DHS under secretary for strategy, policy and plans.
  • Budd accuses DHS and FEMA of “stonewalling” payments and points to Secretary Kristi Noem’s requirement that she personally approve expenditures over $100,000 as a key bottleneck.
  • He says Congress appropriated the relief money in December and that nine months later many reimbursements to Western North Carolina remain unpaid.
  • After criticism, Noem announced an additional $28 million for the state, while Rep. Alma Adams and local officials say more than $100 million already approved has yet to be released.
  • DHS has defended Noem’s tighter approvals as taxpayer accountability and has disputed claims that the policy is solely responsible for delays, including past reporting on Texas flood response.