Trump asks Congress for $ 7.9 billion for Hurricane Harvey relief

President Trump has requested $ 7.9 billion in emergency spending to help Texas and Louisiana recover from Hurricane Harvey’s winds and floods.

The request, sent to Congress on Friday, would add $ 7.4 billion to Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster aid coffers and $ 450 million to finance disaster loans for small businesses.

“We’re working on emergency funding. We’re doing everything we can. We’re working very well with the governor,” Trump told reporters Friday.

But that request to Congress is likely to be just the first down payment on hurricane recovery, as local, state and federal officials continue to tally up the cost of the damage.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has said that cost could exceed $ 125 billion — more than the $ 100 billion- plus federal price tag for Hurricane Katrina in 2005 or about $ 60 billion from Congress for Superstorm Sandy in 2012.

White House homeland security adviser TomBossert said Thursday that FEMA has the resources it needs for immediate relief efforts but the agency is burning through its disaster relief fund at a high rate. That fund was scheduled to be replenished for the new fiscal year on Oct. 1, but now will need additional funds before then, he said.

Congress returns to Washington next week after its August recess, with Harvey relief now at the top of an agenda that also includes must- pass bills to set a budget for the new fiscal year and to raise the debt ceiling to allow the government to borrow more money.