Kelly, Gallego Demand FEMA to Reimburse Shelter and Services Program Recipients

Today, Arizona Senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego demanded that Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Acting Administrator Robert Fenton process and reimburse all outstanding eligible Shelter and Services Program (SSP) claims filed before the program’s termination. The letter follows a May 7, 2026, U.S. District Court order in a case brought by Pima County, Chicago, and Denver requiring the agency to process eligible reimbursement claims for costs incurred before SSP grants were terminated. SSP provided funding to local governments and service providers for short-term emergency services, including food and shelter, for asylum seekers legally processed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) at a time when the border was in crisis and local communities were forced to take on a federal responsibility. “Arizona local governments and service providers carried out this work in reliance of congressional appropriations, FEMA’s program rules, and the federal government’s commitment that eligible expenses would be reimbursed,” wrote the senators. “Failing to fulfill reimbursements to these partners risks undermining the trust needed for effective coordination in future emergencies.” The senators called on FEMA to designate a primary point of contact for Arizona SSP reimbursement claims and make appropriate DHS and FEMA officials available for a briefing on the agency’s plans to comply with the court order. “Together, these rulings reinforce the need for FEMA to follow the law and process reimbursement requests pursuant to the rules and guidelines as they existed under the program prior to the agency’s termination and provide direction to recipients and subrecipients, including those in Arizona,” the senators continued. “Reimbursements are long past due, and FEMA must resolve reimbursement claims without further delay.” “Arizona localities and service providers fulfilled their responsibilities under this program and courts have agreed the agency’s actions to limit reimbursements were unlawful,” the senators concluded. “FEMA should now provide the clarity, transparency, and timely reimbursement as required under the agency’s own program rules pre-termination. We urge you to comply with these obligations without delay.” Click here to read the full letter.