Today in the Federal Register, HUD published a notice waiving timing requirements for disaster recovery action plans and action plan amendments. The waivers for grants under the Community Development Block Grant–Disaster Recovery (CDBG–DR) program are necessary due to the government shutdown “and the resultant inability to satisfactorily complete the review and approval process consistent with (HUD’s) customary timeline.”
As explained in the notice, CDBG-DR grantees are required to submit action plans to HUD describing the intended use of recovery funds. HUD approval is also required for significant amendments to the action plans. HUD is waiving the required 45- to 60-day time limits for review and approval of the plans.
HUD will review the pending Action Plan Amendments and Action Plans and provide affected grantees with a decision within a time period which will be announced by HUD after enactment of funding for the Department’s normal operations.
Failure to extend the review period could lead to deemed approvals upon expiration of the customary 60-day review period, an outcome that would be inconsistent with both HUD’s oversight responsibilities and the purposes of the CDBG–DR funding or, alternatively, disapproval. Grantees with pending submissions are advised that the extension of HUD’s review period and resulting delays should not be considered a commentary on the submissions but is a recognition of the current circumstances.
