The White House requests $4 billion emergency funding for Key Bridge reconstruction and disaster response
- The White House is seeking $4 billion in emergency funding for the Francis Scott Key bridge reconstruction in Baltimore.
- The funding is also intended to respond to other recent disasters in the United States.
- The request is made to Congress to cover the costs of bridge collapse and repair, as well as other disaster relief efforts.
In a recent development, the White House has put forth a request for approximately $4 billion in emergency funding from Congress. This funding is intended to cover expenses related to the collapse and subsequent repair of the Francis Scott Key bridge in Baltimore, as well as to address various other disasters that have taken place across the United States in recent months. The emergency request, initiated by President Joe Biden's administration, builds upon a previous $56 billion appeal made last October, which was largely disregarded by Congress. The current plea seeks to allocate additional funds to address the bridge reconstruction and associated costs. Specifically, the Biden administration is seeking an extra $3.1 billion for the Department of Transportation, with the aim of reconstructing the Key Bridge entirely at the federal government's expense. Additionally, a portion of the funds, amounting to nearly $80 million, is designated for the Coast Guard to cover unforeseen expenses incurred during the response to the bridge collapse. Furthermore, $33 million is earmarked for the Army Corps of Engineers to address costs related to the removal of wreckage following the bridge's collision with a cargo ship. The request, outlined in a letter from Shalanda Young, the director of the Office of Management and Budget, is directed to House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and is scheduled for submission on Friday. Young emphasizes that releasing these funds is crucial to ensure that the federal government fulfills its obligation to rebuild Baltimore without compromising its ability to respond to other recent or future disasters nationwide. The additional $4 billion in funding also encompasses expenses related to other calamities over the past year, such as tornadoes in the Midwest and wildfires in Hawaii. The urgency of this request underscores the administration's commitment to addressing critical infrastructure needs and disaster response efforts across the country.