Today, Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) released the following statement on Donald Trump’s comments about the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA):

“It’s completely disgraceful that Donald Trump would sit in the Oval Office and claim his administration has successfully helped Western North Carolina rebuild from the devastation brought by Hurricane Helene. His proposal to eliminate FEMA will be disastrous for the communities still rebuilding and the communities that will be affected by this hurricane season.

“If Trump really cares about effectively managing disaster response, then he should submit a funding request to Congress to replenish the Disaster Relief Fund. North Carolina and states across the Southeast still face long roads to full recovery from Hurricane Helene. It’s time for President Trump and his administration to start facilitating – not obstructing – the federal aid our communities desperately need.”

Last month, Congresswoman Ross led a group of bipartisan House members from North Carolina, Virginia, Florida, and Georgia in urging President Trump to submit an emergency supplemental funding request to Congress for the Disaster Relief Fund (DRF), which the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) now projects will be exhausted by early August 2025.