Reps. Chu, Sherman, Sens. Schiff, Padilla Demand FEMA Release Withheld Funding for LA Wildfire Case Management Program

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Rep. Chu (CA-28), Rep. Sherman (CA-32), Sen. Schiff (D-CA), and Sen. Padilla (D-CA) sent a letter to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Cameron Hamilton demanding the agency immediately release outstanding funding for the Disaster Case Management Program (DCMP), which is set to terminate on September 30, 2026.

Nearly twenty months after the devastating Eaton and Palisades Fires, thousands of survivors remain displaced. The DCMP has been a lifeline for many, providing survivors with individualized assistance to navigate FEMA and SBA assistance, insurance claims, temporary housing, and long-term rebuilding plans. The demand for this program remains high: providers report 1,397 open cases and roughly 700 additional survivors on a waitlist, with more than 1,000 active cases involving Eaton Fire survivors alone. DCMP referrals have helped survivors access more than $100 million in direct assistance since January 2025. If the program shuts down, providers estimate 109 case management staff positions will be eliminated.

The looming termination is not due to a lack of approved funding. FEMA has simply failed to release millions of dollars it has already approved for the program. The State of California requested approximately $26 million to operate the program, and FEMA approved roughly $13 million. However, only about $3 million has been paid to date, leaving nearly $10 million in approved funding outstanding. A California Department of Social Services (CDSS) request for approximately $6 million in supplemental funding also remains pending.

"Twenty months after the Eaton Fire devastated our communities, survivors of the 2025 Los Angeles Fires have already waited longer than survivors of any other disaster for long-term federal recovery funding," said Rep. Chu. Now, FEMA is withholding millions in approved recovery funding, forcing the Disaster Case Management Program to shut down more than a year early while survivors are still waiting for the help they need. Shutting down such a critical lifeline for no reason is indefensible. I'm calling on FEMA to immediately provide the funding necessary to keep these case managers on the job. Eaton Fire survivors and communities across Los Angeles have already lost enough. I will not stop fighting until they have the federal resources they need to rebuild and come home."

"FEMA needs to provide these funds quickly", said Rep. Sherman. "The Los Angeles wildfires were the costliest in U.S. history, and Congress needs to provide funding for the Disaster Case Management Program (DCMP) so it can accomplish its purpose of providing individualized assistance to fire survivors in accessing federal benefits they qualify for and developing long-term recovery plans."

The lawmakers are demanding FEMA immediately release the remaining funds under the existing DCMP award and expedite review of CDSS's supplemental funding request.

Read the full letter HERE and below.

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September 10, 2026

The Honorable Cameron Hamilton
Administrator
Federal Emergency Management Agency
500 C Street SW
Washington, DC 20472

Dear Administrator Hamilton:

We write with urgent concern regarding the impending termination of the Disaster Case Management Program (DCMP) serving survivors of the January 2025 Eaton and Palisades Fires in Los Angeles County. According to the California Department of Social Services (CDSS), the program will be forced to end on September 30, 2026, because the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has not provided sufficient funding to continue operations.

Nearly twenty months after these devastating fires, thousands of survivors remain displaced and continue to face significant barriers to rebuilding their homes and communities. The DCMP provides critical, individualized assistance to survivors navigating the complex recovery process, including accessing FEMA and Small Business Administration assistance, navigating insurance claims, securing temporary housing, identifying rebuilding resources, and developing long-term recovery plans. These services are particularly important for older adults, people with disabilities, individuals with limited English proficiency, and other survivors who may face additional barriers to accessing recovery assistance.

The continued need for these services is clear. DCMP providers report that there are currently 1,397 open cases and approximately 700 additional survivors on a waitlist for case management services. More than 1,000 of the active cases involve Eaton Fire survivors. Since January 2025, providers report that DCMP referrals have helped survivors access more than $100 million in direct assistance. If the program terminates on September 30, providers estimate that approximately 109 DCMP staff positions will be eliminated, disrupting assistance for survivors who are still actively working to recover.

We are particularly concerned by reports regarding the status of federal funding for the program. According to DCMP providers, California initially requested approximately $26 million from FEMA to operate the program. FEMA approved approximately $13 million, but only approximately $3 million has been paid to date, leaving approximately $10 million of the approved award outstanding. We further understand that CDSS has submitted a request for approximately $6 million in supplemental funding to sustain the program through the full period requested by the state.

We therefore urge FEMA to immediately release any remaining funds available under the existing DCMP award and expeditiously review and approve CDSS's pending request for supplemental funding necessary to prevent an interruption in services. FEMA must take all available steps to ensure that survivors do not lose access to their case managers on September 30 simply because federal funding has not been provided in time.

Given the imminent termination of the program, we also request responses to the following questions:

1. What is preventing FEMA from releasing the remaining funding under the existing DCMP award, and when will those funds be made available to California?
2. What is the status of CDSS's pending request for approximately $6 million in supplemental funding, and when will FEMA make a determination?
3. What actions will FEMA take before September 30 to prevent any interruption in case management services for survivors?

The Eaton and Palisades Fires devastated communities across Los Angeles County. With thousands of survivors still displaced and nearly 2,100 households either receiving or waiting for case management assistance, withdrawing this support now would undermine the recovery work that survivors, community organizations, and government agencies have spent nearly twenty months undertaking.

We urge FEMA to act immediately to prevent any interruption in these critical services. Given the September 30 deadline, we request a response to this letter no later than September 18, 2026.