Federal Grant Delays and Policy Shifts Create Crisis for Emergency Response Systems
Emergency management agencies across the United States are facing unprecedented challenges as federal grant delays and new requirements create what officials call “grant purgatory.” The situation has forced states to pause hiring, delay critical purchases, and reconsider their reliance on federal funding for disaster response.
Emergency Management in ‘Grant Purgatory’ as Federal Support Wavers
State emergency management officials across the United States are reporting significant disruptions to disaster preparedness efforts due to what they describe as “grant purgatory” – a combination of federal funding delays, new administrative requirements, and the ongoing government shutdown, according to reports from multiple state agencies.