FEMA pauses preparedness grants, orders states to recount populations without deported migrants

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has suspended hundreds of millions of dollars in emergency preparedness funding to U.S. states and issued a requirement that states recount their population figures with individuals who have been deported not included in the final tally.

Emergency Management Performance Grants support disaster-readiness efforts, including training, staffing, equipment, and community outreach. 

CNN reported that states began receiving notices Tuesday that they must now submit a population certification as of September 30.

“FEMA will rescind the funding hold upon its review and approval of the State’s methodology and population certification,” the notice said, according to CNN.