The Federal Emergency Management Agency's primary disaster account is reportedly running low on funds amid the partial government shutdown.
Two senior Trump administration officials told Semafor that FEMA's Disaster Relief Fund could be depleted within weeks if Congress does not act to fund the Department of Homeland Security.
The administration is expected to draw the fund down to just under $5 billion after sending another round of payments to disaster-stricken areas this week.
"We're close to the red zone ... it's getting very close," one official told Semafor, cautioning that a single large-scale disaster could drain the account entirely.
The yearlong DHS funding bill passed by House Republicans includes more than $26 billion for the Disaster Relief Fund.
But Senate Democrats have refused to move forward without imposing restrictions on the Trump administration's immigration enforcement policies, a standoff that has dragged on for nearly two weeks.
Politico reported that FEMA distributed more than $5 billion this week alone, reducing available funds from $9.6 billion just days ago.
A FEMA spokesperson accused Democrats of "playing political games" with disaster aid and warned of "dire consequences" as the fund is "being rapidly depleted."
The White House has pressed Senate Democrats to make a deal, arguing that holding up DHS funding jeopardizes not only border enforcement but also hurricane recovery, winter storm response, and emergency preparedness nationwide.
The Washington Post reported that hundreds of FEMA employees have been grounded during the shutdown and are unable to travel to disaster zones or return home from deployments without special approval.
Ongoing recovery efforts in Alaska, Tennessee, Indiana, and other states have reportedly slowed due to travel restrictions and bureaucratic hurdles.
FEMA's Disaster Relief Fund is structured to operate during shutdowns but it still relies on congressional appropriations to remain solvent over time.
Administration officials told Semafor they cannot temporarily transfer money from other accounts, such as the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities fund, because those funds are tied up in court.
With much of the East Coast recently battered by a severe winter storm and relief payments from prior hurricanes still being processed, officials warn the nation could face serious consequences if a major disaster strikes before DHS funding is restored.
Republicans argue the solution is straightforward: Pass the DHS funding bill and fully replenish FEMA's disaster account.
Until then, the administration says Americans in vulnerable communities are left waiting and hoping the next storm doesn't arrive before Congress acts.
Charlie McCarthy ✉
Charlie McCarthy, a writer/editor at Newsmax, has nearly 40 years of experience covering news, sports, and politics.
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