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The Costs of Katrina: Rebuilding the Gulf

At the end of August 2005, Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast. As the devastation to the region became clear, Congress quickly passed two emergency appropriations bills (H.R. 3673 and H. Res. 432) totaling $62.3 billion. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) received $60 billion; the Department of Defense received $1.9 billion; and the Army Corps of Engineers received $400 million, all with very few strings attached.

While TCS shares the concern that federal aid is needed to help those affected by the Hurricane, we also believe federal taxpayers cannot afford to write a blank check to federal bureaucrats and private contractors. Efficiency and accountability are paramount to ensure that those most effected in the Gulf get the help they need, without bankrupting the Treasury.

This site is a resource for information about Katrina spending and contracts associated with rebuilding the Gulf. The more information that can be made available, the better able taxpayers can see how their money is being spent.

We will do our best to make this as up-to-date as possible. For the items below that are listed but are not yet linked, we will strive to get that up as soon as the information is available. Please contact us if you have any questions at info@taxpayer.net.

Who's Getting Katrina Contracts

TCS Profiles of selected Katrina contractors

TCS List of all Katrina contracts (pdf)

Highlights of questionable spending (pdf)


Army Corps of Engineers


Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)



Department of Defense


Federal Procurement Database System


Offsetting Katrina's Costs: How to Pay for Rebuilding -- The cost of rebuilding the Gulf Coast may reach $200 billion. Click above to see TCS's detailed menu of cuts that will offset the entire cost of rebuilding. You will also find links to proposals from several other organizations.

Katrina Related Legislation -- A number of bills have already been signed into law in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, but none of them help ensure that taxpayer dollars are not lost to waste, fraud, and abuse. This is a list of these legislative proposals.

Senate Budget Tally of Katrina Related Spending

Congressional Research Service, Disaster Response and Appointment of a Recovery Czar: The Executive Branch’s Response to the Flood of 1927, Oct. 25, 2005 (pdf)

Testimony Before the House Select Bipartisan Committee to Investigate the Preparation for and Response to Hurricane Katrina, "Hurricanes Katrina and Rita: Contracting for Response and Recovery Efforts," Statement of David E. Cooper, Director, Acquisition and Sourcing Management (pdf)

Testimony Before the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship , "Hurricanes Katrina and Rita: Preliminary Observations on Contracting for Response and Recovery Efforts," Statement of David E. Cooper, Director Acquisition and Sourcing Management (pdf)

Congressional Budget Office Analysis of H.R. 4146: Hurricanes Rita and Wilma Financial Services Relief Act of 2005 (pdf)

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