Democrats’ ICE funding halt could leave FEMA stranded after monster snowstorm

Senate Democrats’ threats to withhold Homeland Security funding over the Trump administration’s immigration policies could put federal emergency assistance funding at risk, coming after a massive snowstorm that swept the country over the weekend and left thousands without power.

The DHS bill provides $64.4 billion, of which $32 billion is allocated for the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Of that $32 billion, $26.4 billion is for the Disaster Relief Fund and $3.8 billion for grant programs, education, and training of firefighters, first responders, and others.

The Trump administration approved federal emergency declarations for several states ahead of the winter storm, dubbed “Winter Storm Fern” by the Weather Channel, that brought freezing temperatures and heavy snowfall to many states.

But FEMA’s funding is at risk now that many