Swiping FEMA Money, and a "Toothless" Evictions Memo

I. Swiping FEMA Money for Unemployment Scheme

Many congressional lawmakers are concerned that President Trump's decision to swipe $44 billion from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) could leave the agency with insufficient funding to meet disaster needs. The Louisiana new outlet NOLA.com has calculated that it could leave FEMA with only $25 billion in funding. FEMA has about $64 billion in its budget, but this is a pre-Hurricane Laura funding level. 

States have the option of using their unemployment benefits to cover the $100 they must provide for the Trump plan, so that a large swatch of workers will see their benefits increased by $300,which is half the $600 they were getting through July 2020. The stimulus for the economy that was being provided through July will be cut in half for this swatch of workers.

Only a relative handful of states have updated their computers and figured out how they can get the FEMA money; however, if the 40 some states said to be interested in the new program follow through in the next two months, experts say the FEMA money could be exhausted in as little as five weeks of      full participation.

There could also be issues with the Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, which includes a program that provides assistance to people who don't qualify for traditional unemployment. 

Over-arching the shortfalls of the Trump unemployment executive order is another instance of Trump using funds appropriated for one purpose: disaster relief, to pay for a new program legislated in the White House. Congress has the power of the purse.

II. A "Toothless" Evictions Memo

President Trump's evictions memorandum is called "toothless" by Peggy Bailey, vice president of housing at the Center for Budgetary Priorities. The memorandum merely directs federal agencies to "consider" measures to prevent evictions.. The National Low Income Housing Coalition called the order "Trump's empty shell of a promise to renters."