1. United States
2. Ohio
3. Letter

The withholding of FEMA funds to at least 19 states since early February is unacceptable and leaves Americans vulnerable in the face of disasters. These funds, previously appropriated by Congress, must be disbursed without further delay. The cancellation of the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program also puts local communities at risk by stripping away crucial resources for disaster preparedness and mitigation projects already underway. Blocking access to these vital FEMA programs as a means of political retaliation against so-called "sanctuary cities" is an unconscionable dereliction of duty that needlessly endangers lives. Restoring the BRIC grants and immediately unfreezing all FEMA funding is paramount to protect public safety and uphold the federal government's responsibility to its citizens, regardless of the politics at play. This irrational punishment must end, and disaster relief efforts must be fully funded without further obstruction.