Pallone Slams Trump for Leaving NJ Fire Departments Without Critical Funds
Local Fire Departments Struggle as Trump FEMA Sabotage Delays SAFER Grant Reimbursements
LONG BRANCH, NJ – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) today blasted the Trump administration for hollowing out the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and leaving fire departments across New Jersey without the federal funding they were promised.
In one local municipality that received a SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response) grant, firefighters weren’t reimbursed for more than three months creating a six-figure hole in the department’s budget.
"Firefighters are our frontline heroes, risking their lives daily to protect our communities," Pallone stated. "It's unacceptable that the Trump administration's policies are causing unnecessary financial hardship for local fire departments."
“New Jersey fire fighters, EMTs, and dispatchers rely on these federal grants to do their work and save lives,” said Eddie Donnelly, President of the New Jersey Firefighters’ Mutual Benevolent Association (FMBA). “They help offset expensive equipment like personal protective equipment (PPE), training, and manpower that departments across the state would otherwise not be able to provide. This dangerous and unnecessary freeze is already having real-life impacts on public safety forcing fire departments and municipalities to make difficult funding decisions. This new ‘review period’ as implemented is redundant and we need FEMA to release the funds ASAP. The current application and review process is very comprehensive and has been a long standing part of the grant guidelines for decades. Thank you to Congressman Pallone for holding their feet to the fire and trying to unlock these much needed funds.”
According to the FMBA, FEMA recently imposed a vague “review period” on all SAFER and AFG (Assistance to Firefighters Grant) disbursements, with no timeline for how long those reviews will take. Even after reviews are complete, FEMA gives itself another 30 days to send the money—leaving departments in limbo and frontline workers in the crosshairs.
Pallone’s office is surveying fire departments across New Jersey’s Sixth District to determine how many others are affected and is pushing FEMA for an immediate fix.
“I’ll keep fighting to make sure our first responders get every dollar they’ve earned,” Pallone added. “Donald Trump may have broken FEMA, but we’re not going to let that stop us from doing what’s right and getting results.”