The Federal Emergency Management Agency has announced that it will no longer pay for personal protective equipment and disinfectants for schools because they’re not “direct emergency protective measure[s],” BusinessInsider reports.
As schools around the country try to plan for reopening classrooms in the midst of the pandemic, many schools have had to re-implement 100% remote learning programs as the coronavirus has spread through their schools.
The FEMA money was used to reimburse schools for monies used to pay for PPE like facemasks worn by teachers, staff and students, as well as additional cleaning supplies and services needed to disinfect schools.
Regardless of ongoing health concerns, President Trump, Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos and many republican governors have demanded that schools open in-classroom education. The FEMA mandate will take effect September 15th and will also stop reimbursements for other public facilities like courthouses.
Trump has announced that more than $55 billion will be shifted away from FEMA to be used for federal supplements for unemployment insurance payments.
School districts and local governments are currently facing massive budget shortfalls because of reduced revenues due to the coronavirus outbreak.