Biden is seeking an additional $4 billion to support disaster relief efforts, which would raise the total funding request to $16 billion.

The White House plans to request an extra $4 billion to tackle natural disasters in its supplementary funding proposal. This indicates that the increasing intensity of wildfires, flooding, and hurricanes due to climate change is resulting in higher expenses for American taxpayers.

The Biden administration initially asked for an additional $12 billion in funding for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s disaster relief fund. This fund supports rescue and relief operations. However, a representative from the Democratic administration stated that due to the fires in Hawaii and Louisiana, flooding in Vermont, and Hurricane Idalia hitting Florida and other Southeastern states, a total of $16 billion is now required.

As recently as Tuesday, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell had stressed that $12 billion would be enough to meet the agency’s needs through the end of the fiscal year this month.

Criswell informed journalists during a briefing at the White House that the reduced amount “will serve as a means to carry us until the conclusion of the fiscal year.”

“We will closely monitor the condition of the disaster relief fund to assess any additional requirements if we experience further storms,” stated Criswell. “However, at present, the supplementary request will suffice until the end of this fiscal year.”

President Joe Biden visited FEMA’s headquarters in Washington on Thursday and advocated for additional funding, emphasizing the urgency by stating, “It is imperative that we fulfill this request for disaster relief in September.” He expressed confusion over certain legislators’ opposition to allocating the funds.

The president expressed uncertainty about their thought process.

Shortly after Biden’s speech, the White House Office of Management and Budget determined that an additional $4 billion should be added to the supplemental funding bill. This bill also includes funds to support Ukraine in its conflict with Russia and to combat fentanyl addiction.

The request for additional funding was discussed by an official from the Biden administration, who preferred to remain anonymous.