$33 Million ‘Re-Programmed’ From Projects For Baltimore Harbor Disaster

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has “re-appropriated” $33 million from its current-year budget in response to the containership crash on March 26 that caused the collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge. This incident resulted in six fatalities and the closure of the ninth-busiest port in the United States.

Members of the House are unhappy with federal funds being redirected from important projects in their districts, such as the $831,000 taken from a harbor project in Jacksonville, Florida.

“Last week, the Army Corps modified its operations by utilizing emergency program reprogramming authority to redirect approximately $33 million from previously appropriated funds for recovery costs related to the Key Bridge collapse,” stated Mr. Webster.

He further added that nearly $1 million was taken from Florida projects without input from the congressional delegation, the state, or the public.

In the letter, Mr. Mast expressed disappointment in the lack of communication with the Florida congressional delegation and emphasized that members were not given the opportunity to object to the fund reallocation.

During the two-hour hearing, the Florida representatives criticized the Corps for its handling of the situation following the bridge-ship crash in Baltimore.

Despite the reassurance from Mr. Graham that the reallocated funds, including those from the Jacksonville Harbor project, would not impact existing or planned projects, concerns remain about the long-term implications of diverting funds.

President Joe Biden pledged federal support for the reconstruction of the Key Bridge, which is estimated to cost billions of dollars over several years.

While Mr. Graham defended the Corps’ actions as necessary in responding to the emergency, questions remain about the handling of funds and the potential impact on future projects.

Mr. Webster raised concerns about the Corps’ delayed action in addressing budget discrepancies and questioned the need for stricter financial oversight moving forward.

While the Corps maintains that the reprogrammed funds were surplus, Mr. Graham acknowledged the need for improved financial management practices within the organization.