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Congressional staff warns Lincoln County FEMA funding could be delayed amid stalled DHS bill
Summary
Congressional staff told Lincoln County officials the House has passed all 12 appropriations bills but the Senate has not finished work, and uncertainty in the DHS bill (which includes FEMA) could delay disaster declarations and reimbursements for recent flood and wind damage.
Ben Vanickle, legislative director and deputy chief of staff for Congressman Zinci, told Lincoln County officials that the House had passed all 12 appropriations bills while the Senate had cleared eight and still needed to act on several, including the DHS package that houses FEMA funding. “At this point the House has passed all 12 appropriations bills,” Vanickle said during a county briefing that focused on recent flood and wind damage and recovery needs.
The update matters because FEMA actions and federal reimbursements hinge on the Senate’s work and on a presidential declaration. County and staff participants worried that a short-term federal funding lapse or disagreement on the DHS bill could slow approvals for FEMA declarations and delay reimbursements for infrastructure repairs and debris removal.
County representatives said the flood event produced the largest share of public infrastructure damage in Lincoln County — to roads, bridges and retaining walls — while the wind event produced scattered property damage and downed lines across a wider region. Congressional staff said FEMA has prioritized assessments of flood damage so far and the county’s high-dollar infrastructure claims are likely to be examined first.
Speakers discussed the practical consequences for the county: small counties often lack the staff and contracting capacity to prepare the detailed documentation FEMA requires for reimbursement, and some suggested state-level management of projects to expedite permitting and initial work while the state pursues federal reimbursement. Staff cautioned that FEMA reimbursement can take years and urged careful documentation of debris removal and contractor invoices.
Congressional staff also noted a separate potential source of federal disaster funding from USDA Rural Development for water, wastewater and community facilities, and offered to connect county staff with the USDA contact in Helena to explore options while FEMA’s status remains uncertain.
The county will wait for a decision on the FEMA declaration and continue preparing documentation for reimbursement; congressional staff said they would follow up on any additional questions and with contacts at USDA/Helena and federal agencies.
