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Rep. Krishnamoorthi leads demand to release frozen EFSP funds
The lawmakers have sought written answers by Feb. 26 on the legal basis for withholding the funds.
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Staff Reporter - Tue, 27, Jan 2026
- 13:14 EST
- 17
Raja Krishnamoorthi / File Photo
Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi has called for the immediate release of Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) funds to local governments and non-profits nationwide.
In a letter on Jan. 26, Krishnamoorthi, joined by Ohio Representative Greg Landsman and 44 other lawmakers, called the administration’s refusal to release the funds “unlawful” and in violation of the Impoundment Control Act.
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The funds were appropriated by Congress but continue to remain frozen by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
The lawmakers described the program as vital for providing local governments and nonprofit organizations the resources needed to support emergency food, shelter, and related services for people experiencing homelessness or other crises.
They asked the DHS and FEMA to specify the statutory authority under which the funds are being withheld and to cite the provisions they believe justify the continued freeze. The lawmakers requested written responses by Feb. 26, seeking clarity on the legal basis for the delay.
The letter follows earlier efforts led by Krishnamoorthi to secure the release of emergency shelter funding. In Aug. 2025, he led a separate appeal from House oversight leaders urging federal agencies to disburse EFSP resources. Landsman had also spearheaded an April 2025 push with dozens of House Democrats seeking restoration of the program.
Concerns were also raised about potential changes to FEMA’s structure or responsibilities, with lawmakers seeking assurances that EFSP recipients would receive timely notice and uninterrupted access to federal support during any transition.
DHS and FEMA have not issued a public response to the Jan. 26 letter. The EFSP, administered by FEMA under DHS, has faced recurring scrutiny in recent years over funding allocation and eligibility during periods of increased migration.
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