Senators Markey, Warren, Reps. Keating, Lynch Urge FEMA to Rescind Decision to Cancel Coastal Recovery Projects

Letter Text (PDF) Washington (July 31, 2026) - Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), along with and Representatives Bill Keating (MA-09) and Stephen Lynch (MA-08) urged Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region 1 Acting Regional Administrator Jarrett Devine to rescind the decision to cancel coastal recovery projects in Massachusetts. Seven communities—Marshfield, Scituate, Hull, Quincy, Nahant, Gloucester, and Rockport—now face financial uncertainty in their paths to recover from extreme storms. On July 13, 2026, the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) received a letter from FEMA Region 1 detailing its decision to cancel coastal recovery projects associated with four previous storms. The projects now in jeopardy include repairs to stormwalls, revetments, outfalls, and other critical infrastructure damaged by extreme weather. These harmful consequences will financially burden communities and result in the potential termination of these projects, putting residents and our coasts at unnecessary risk. “The decision to cancel these ongoing disaster recovery projects is arbitrary, reckless, and harmful,” said the lawmakers. “FEMA’s purpose should be to help communities recover after major disasters, and that is not a promise being upheld today. We urge FEMA to restore this funding, so our coasts and communities are adequately protected from extreme weather.” ###