In yet another show of poor planning and fiscal irresponsibility, the Biden administration is imploring Congress to greenlight nearly $100 billion of taxpayers’ hard-earned money. This colossal amount has been requested for handling assorted calamities, a direct result of their ineptitude in managing crises efficiently, thus depleting available government resources.
The latest call for help, made on Monday, contains a proposal for $40 billion to be funneled into the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This is expected to aid in rectifying the havoc wreaked by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, even though these disasters should have been better managed from the outset. The hurricanes have left their mark on the southeastern states, such as Florida, leading, it seems, the Biden administration to look for solutions after the event.
Echoing their mismanagement, Biden’s team aims to allocate a helping hand to other national emergencies with the remaining funding. These include the disastrous wildfires in Maui from the past year, numerous tornadoes sweeping across the Midwest, and even the demise of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore earlier in March. Yet, one can’t help wondering if they could have been better prevented or handled, saving us from such a disastrous funding request.
Effortlessly personifying the ethos of too little, too late, White House budget director, Shalanda Young, announced to the press how ‘important’ this ‘relief’ is. Nevertheless, it is questionable whether this is a ploy to make the government appear as the last-minute savior for families, small businesses, neighborhoods, and communities when disaster hits.
FEMA supposedly has enough funds left to continue the recovery operation for Helene and Milton, at least until the end of this year. In stark contrast, however, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell informed that their cash flow is hitting rock bottom. Without an extra cash injection, it’s claimed they won’t survive past September in the coming fiscal year.
The proposition was brought to the attention of Congress, freshly back from its hiatus after the Nov. 5 presidential election. Leaving their home districts after an extended break, lawmakers now face the decision of whether to process this huge request as standalone legislation or bundle it within the customary end-of-year spending package.
In a display of perhaps misplaced unity, Young made the point that in matters of delivering such aid, political alignments should be set aside. However, one can’t help but question this administration’s regular appeals for emergency funds, showing a lack of preparation and reactive nature to problems.
Biden’s appeal contains a loan of $24 billion for the Agriculture Department. This sum is supposedly to help farmers who have suffered crop or livestock losses from natural disasters like hurricanes, wildfires and drought. In addition, funds will be used for debris removal and various other reparative tasks in communities rack up this bill.
A further $12 billion has been requested by the administration for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The money would, in theory, serve to mend the cracks, tears, and breakages left in the aftermath of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. However, it is left unclear if better foresight and planning may have lessened the scale of the damage and associated costs.
Biden’s team is also seeking a hefty $8 billion for the Transportation Department. Their brief is no less than rebuilding, repairing, or reconstructing highways, bridges and roads in more than 40 states, evidently impacted by a flurry of disasters. Once again, we see a failure in preventative measures before disaster strikes, resulting in these escalating repair costs.
A seemingly paltry, in comparison, $2 billion has been tagged for the Small Business Administration (SBA). The plan is for SBA to dish out low-interest disaster loans to businesses, homeowners, renters, and even nonprofit organizations. This would be an admirable cause if it wasn’t for the question of whether better handling of the crises in the first place could have prevented such a need.
If you’re keeping track, Biden’s administration is tapping into the taxpayers’ wallets, asking for funds for as many as 16 departments or agencies. It raises a key question that demands an answer – Why is there such a constant need for these emergency relief requests?
At first glance, the hefty price tag of $100 billion seems almost impossibly high. But, considering the track record of the Biden administration’s loose financial policies and reactive strategies, it becomes less surprising.
In an ideal world, the government should strive to prevent foreseeable problems or at least be well prepared for them. Unfortunately, the current administration seems more inclined towards a reactive, deal-with-it-as-it-happens approach. This pattern is precarious at best and could potentially lead to an even greater financial drain down the line.
It’s incumbent on this administration to rectify this repetitive pattern of financial mismanagement and remedial spending. This colossal figure of $100 billion might well be considered for a better use- more robust disaster prevention systems, perhaps. After all, a stitch in time famously saves nine.