DHS boss rescinds restrictive $100,000 approval process, giving hope to FEMA relief efforts - AP News

The Department of Homeland Security chief has rescinded a $100,000 approval threshold that had slowed the distribution of federal disaster relief funds, removing a bureaucratic bottleneck that constrained FEMA's ability to respond to emergencies. The restriction required higher-level authorization for individual grants exceeding that amount, creating delays in getting aid to disaster-affected communities. By eliminating this requirement, the Trump administration aims to streamline FEMA's relief operations and accelerate fund deployment during crises. The change is expected to improve response times for major disasters where costs quickly exceed the previous approval limit. The move signals an effort to reduce red tape in the federal disaster response system, allowing field officers greater discretion in allocating resources.