Taxpayers for Common Sense (TCS) appreciates the opportunity to submit comments to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on “Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) Application Reporting” (Docket Number FEMA-2026-0694) published on September 17, 2026. Our comments address FEMA’s request to “evaluate whether the proposed data collection is necessary for the proper performance of the agency” and “minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond.”

Disasters are becoming more frequent, more expensive, and more complex. Mitigation is a cost-effective use of federal disaster dollars that can reduce future disaster losses. The HMGP, which provides grants to state, local, and tribal governments to develop and adopt hazard mitigation plans and carry out mitigation projects after a disaster, is a critical disaster mitigation program.

As FEMA seeks comments regarding the requirements, grants management procedures, and implementation of grants awarded under HMGP, we urge policymakers to balance the need to protect program integrity with the need to simplify the federal disaster application and grant management system. These goals should reinforce each other. Clear, consistent requirements can provide the information FEMA needs to protect taxpayers while reducing the time and expense communities spend navigating the system.