GOP rebels go to war over Biden’s mammoth $98B disaster aid request
House Freedom Caucus is calling for a targeted package offset by spending cuts
By Elizabeth Elkind Fox News
Published December 4, 2024 7:50pm EST
FIRST ON FOX: The ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus is calling on Republican leaders to reject President Biden’s $98.4 billion disaster aid request.
In an official position staked out by the GOP group on Wednesday evening, lawmakers are demanding a slimmed-down package covering what is "absolutely necessary," to be offset with spending cuts elsewhere.
"Congress should not pass a whopping $100 billion unpaid disaster supplemental funding bill — that Democrats will use to cement their own unrelated priorities — in the waning days of Democrat control in Washington right before Republicans take control of the White House and both Chambers," the House Freedom Caucus statement read.
"The House should consider only what is absolutely necessary right now to provide critical relief to hurricane victims and farmers, and pay for it with offsets from wasteful spending elsewhere in the government, then wait for President Trump to take office to better manage disaster relief."
It comes as both House and Senate lawmakers negotiate over how large the disaster aid package should be, and whether it should be attached to an end-of-year federal funding bill that’s critical to avoiding a partial government shutdown during the holiday season.
More than 100 people were killed in North Carolina alone when Helene barreled into the Southeastern U.S. in late September.
Hurricane Milton, another deadly storm, hit Florida and Georgia roughly a week later.
Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., told "Your World" host Neil Cavuto that a $100 billion disaster aid package may be necessary.
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https://www.foxnews.com/politics/gop-rebels-go-war-over-bidens-mammoth-98b-disaster-aid-request
