FEMA denies requests by Maryland, Virginia to cover costs of Capitol riot response, inauguration security

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has denied requests from Maryland’s and Virginia’s governors for emergency declarations that would allow the two state governments to be reimbursed for the expense of sending law enforcement to back up Capitol Police during the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol.

The Wall Street Journal reported Monday that officials in the two states were informed that the assistance they provided during the deadly riot earlier this month at the Capitol would not be supported by the agency.

“Based on our review of all the information available, it has been determined that supplemental federal assistance under the Stafford Act is not warranted for this event,” read a letter to Virginia officials obtained by the Journal.

The decision was sharply criticized by Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D) on Twitter.

“Virginia was there to defend the U.S. Capitol on January 6—and we are committed to ensuring a peaceful transfer of power tomorrow. Now, the same President who incited this terrorism has denied us support in our efforts to stop it. A slap in the face,” he tweeted.

Virginia was there to defend the U.S. Capitol on January 6—and we are committed to ensuring a peaceful transfer of power tomorrow. Now, the same President who incited this terrorism has denied us support in our efforts to stop it. A slap in the face.https://t.co/Qw5UhQ1zd2

— Ralph Northam (@GovernorVA) January 19, 2021

“FEMA informed the governors of both Maryland and Virginia their requests for an emergency declaration were not approved. Based on FEMA’s review of all the information available, it has been determined that supplemental federal assistance under the Stafford Act is not warranted for this event. Virginia and Maryland both requested their Emergency Declaration on January 15, 2021. The governors were notified the requests were not approved on January 17, 2021,” a FEMA spokesperson told The Hill.

Both Maryland and Virginia plan to appeal the decision, The Washington Post reported, with Virginia officials making clear to the newspaper that they would wait until after President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration to make the request.

Downtown D.C. has remained under lockdown in the days leading up to Biden’s inauguration amid fears of further violence. Twenty-five thousand National Guardsmen have been deployed to the District ahead of Wednesday’s events, and officials have warned there will be “no tolerance” for disruptions at the inauguration.

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