Pallone Announces Nearly $25 Million for Middlesex County Ida Recovery, Slams Trump’s Dangerous Plan to Gut FEMA

Long Branch, NJ - Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) today announced that the Middlesex County Utilities Authority will receive over $21.5 million in federal funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to repair damage to the Green Brook Pumping Station caused by the remnants of Hurricane Ida. Combined with the local cost share, the total project investment will approach $25 million. The funding, which comes from FEMA's Public Assistance program under the Robert T. Stafford Act, is critical for rebuilding vital water infrastructure and protecting the region from future storms.

"This funding is another example of why FEMA's disaster recovery mission is essential-especially for a densely populated, flood-prone state like New Jersey," Pallone said. "After Superstorm Sandy and Hurricane Ida, New Jerseyans know exactly what's at stake. Stripping FEMA of its core responsibilities, as Trump officials are now openly considering, would be catastrophic for communities that rely on the agency to help them recover and rebuild."

Recent reportingreveals that officials in the Trump administration, including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, are weighing proposals to dramatically weaken or eliminate FEMA's disaster recovery role by October 1-just weeks into the heart of hurricane season. According to internal discussions, the administration is considering shifting FEMA's responsibilities to the states, which would jeopardize timely aid, undercut national coordination, and leave states like New Jersey on their own in the face of extreme weather disasters.

"Trump and his allies want to gut the very agency that helped us recover from Sandy, Ida, and countless other disasters," Pallone added. "It's a reckless and dangerous plan that would leave New Jerseyans and millions of other Americans to fend for themselves when the next storm hits."

Pallone has long been a national leader on disaster recovery and emergency response. Last fall, he led a bipartisan push to make FEMA'snew Individual Assistance rule retroactive for survivors of Hurricane Ida. The rule-finalized by the Biden-Harris Administration-was the first major update to FEMA's aid program in 20 years and includes critical reforms such as up to $42,500 in aid for uninsured losses, $750 in automatic emergency payments, and a streamlined appeals process. Pallone's effort would ensure those affected by disasters since January 2021 are eligible for the improved aid.

"We fought to reform FEMA so future storm survivors aren't stuck in the same bureaucratic nightmare," Pallone said. "But those who already lived through Ida deserve the same support. These are our neighbors and they're still rebuilding. We're not going to let them be abandoned-not now, and not under Trump's dangerous plan."

"The Middlesex County Utility Authority wishes to thank FEMA, Congressman Pallone, and all involved in obtaining this $21.5 million grant for the Green Brook Pump Station. With this grant, FEMA will cover ninety percent of the anticipated $23.9 million project cost for this work. The communities we serve will benefit from the planned floodwall protection, upgrade, and rehabilitation of the Green Brook Pump Station, and be able to count on continued uninterrupted service from the MCUA, a task made more difficult with numerous intense storms that affect our operations. Our ratepayers and employees again want to thank FEMA and Congressman Pallone for his tireless advocacy for important, below the radar infrastructure projects like this, and everyone involved who helped bring this to fruition," from Joseph Cryan, Executive Director of the Middlesex County Utilities Authority.

The FEMA grant announced today will fund permanent repairs to the Green Brook Pumping Station operated by the Middlesex County Utilities Authority. The pumping station sustained significant damage during Hurricane Ida, which overwhelmed infrastructure across Central New Jersey and caused widespread flooding. FEMA's funding covers 90% of the project cost, with the remainder provided by state and local sources.