Puerto Rico Hands FEMA Power to Approve Any Use of Hurricane Aid
Downed power lines in San Juan, Puerto Rico on Nov. 7, 2017.
Photographer: Ricardo Arduengo/AFP/Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rossello said the island has agreed to give the Federal Emergency Management Agency unprecedented power to oversee disaster-relief spending, a step that may mollify Congress as the territory seeks billions to recover from Hurricane Maria.
Rossello, who has requested $94 billion in aid from Washington, said at a press conference Monday in San Juan that he agreed to let the agency pre-approve the use of any federal funds. He said that FEMA has never taken that step before.