The Department of Homeland Security is holding up more than $100 million preapproved dollars intended to help hurricane-battered North Carolina clean up storm damage and fix infrastructure.

The Department of Homeland Security is reported to be delaying more than $100 million in preapproved funds intended for North Carolina's hurricane recovery, though other federal agencies have also provided substantial emergency relief funding.

US Department of Labor approves up to $10M in initial funding to support disaster recovery jobs, training for North Carolina after Hurricane Helene - U.S. Department of Labor
Source: dol.gov

At a glance

Key Evidence

Verified August 9, 2025

The Washington Post reported DHS is holding up more than $100 million in preapproved funds for North Carolina's hurricane recovery.washingtonpost.com
The U.S. Department of Transportation announced immediate availability of $100 million in Emergency Relief funds for North Carolina infrastructure repairs.transportation.gov
The Biden-Harris Administration approved nearly $2 billion for hurricane response including over $100 million for North Carolina survivors.bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov

The reporting

What the Evidence Shows

The claim that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is holding up more than $100 million in preapproved funds for North Carolina's hurricane recovery is supported by recent reporting. According to a Washington Post article dated August 8, 2025, DHS has delayed millions in pre-approved recovery funds for North Carolina related to Hurricane Helene, which struck nearly a year prior. This delay affects efforts to clean up storm damage and repair infrastructure still in disrepair.washingtonpost.com

However, it is important to contextualize this with other federal funding activities. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has announced the immediate availability of $100 million in Emergency Relief funds specifically for roads and bridges damaged by Hurricane Helene in North Carolina.transportation.gov Additionally, DOT has sent a total of $352.6 million in emergency relief funding to Tennessee and North Carolina for infrastructure repairs.highways.dot.gov The Department of Labor has also approved up to $10 million in initial funding to support disaster recovery jobs and training in North Carolina.dol.gov

Furthermore, the Biden-Harris Administration approved nearly $2 billion for hurricane response and recovery efforts overall, including more than $100 million specifically for North Carolina survivors.bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov While President Biden requested nearly $100 billion in disaster aid after Hurricanes Helene and Milton, the actual disbursement and timing of these funds involve multiple agencies and processes.pbs.org wral.com

In summary, while DHS delays have been documented regarding some preapproved funds exceeding $100 million, other federal agencies have actively disbursed significant emergency relief funding to North Carolina. Thus, the claim is mostly true but should be understood within the broader context of multi-agency disaster funding efforts.

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