FEMA backlog causes delays in California infrastructure projects

What happened: FEMA has not approved any pending BRIC resilience projects in California this year and payments on already obligated projects are slow, despite the program being reinstated after a court order. Key numbers: More than $191 million in Southern California projects pending; nationwide backlog of $2.2 billion per a September GAO report; California Why it matters: GAO's Chris Currie said the cancellation decision was made haphazardly and that delays leave risk unchanged, while sources say some California communities scrapped projects and FEMA staffing for the state has been cut.

FEMA has not approved any pending BRIC resilience projects in California this year and payments on already obligated projects are slow, despite the program being reinstated after a court order.

GAO's Chris Currie said the cancellation decision was made haphazardly and that delays leave risk unchanged, while sources say some California communities scrapped projects and FEMA staffing for the state has been cut.