Taxpayer dollars at work: FEMA cuts, Georgia pecans, OB-GYN shortage

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At a June 17, 2025, hearing of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee, U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff of Georgia highlighted commitments from military branches to Georgia military construction projects.

Credit: Screenshot

Note: In this recurring digital news series, GPB follows your federal tax dollars back to the state of Georgia. Neither Sen. Jon Ossoff nor Sen. Raphael Warnock is up for reelection this year — the former will run again in 2026 and the latter in 2028.

Georgia's U.S. senators worked on pressing the U.S. Department of Homeland Security about FEMA cuts ahead of hurricane season, securing a commitment from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to invest in buying pecans from Georgia growers, released a report on Georgia's six-week abortion ban's effects on state OB-GYN shortages, and addressing the rehiring of over 400 employees of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Rail safety

On June 2, Ossoff announced he launched an inquiry with the CEO of CSX Transportation, Joseph Hinrichs, to press the company about improving rail safety and preventing derailments.

The inquiry comes after two recent derailments on March 25 and May 6 in Fayette County and Smyrna, Ga. 

According to a press release, Ossoff is requesting “specific solutions to prevent derailments in the future.

“I write to express serious concern about two recent derailments of CSX train cars in Georgia and to request specific solutions from CSX as soon as possible on plans to prevent such derailments in the future,” Ossoff wrote to Hinrichs. “More must be done to protect my constituents.”

“These significant operational failures could have seriously injured or killed my constituents, and CSX must do more to prevent a more serious incident from occurring in the future,” he continued.

Animal shelters

On June 4, Warnock and Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) reintroduced bipartisan legislation to help animal shelters receive supplies.

According to a press release, the Bring Animals Relief and Kibble (BARK) Act would encourage "donations to animal shelters by providing liability protections for good-faith donations of pet food and supplies."

The legislation would help increase pet food and supplies donations for shelters like those in Georgia, which are facing overcrowding and an increase in supply costs.

"Georgia animal shelters around the state are struggling to keep their doors open, we should make it easier for local businesses to donate pet food and supplies," Warnock said in a statement. "This common-sense, bipartisan legislation protects good-faith donations, making the donation process easier and less stressful, allowing much needed resources to go to dogs and cats waiting for adoption instead of being thrown away."

OB-GYN shortage

On June 4, Ossoff released a report based on an investigation into the impacts of the state’s six-week abortion ban, reporting that the ban could threaten the state’s already severe OB-GYN shortage.

During the investigation, Ossoff’s office surveyed Georgia OB-GYNs with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

Per a press release, as a part of the survey of Georgia OB-GYNs, “Georgia OB-GYNs detailed how the ban undermined their ability to provide comprehensive reproductive care, created fear of prosecution for treating pregnancy-related emergencies, and drove colleagues to either leave the State or stop practicing obstetrics altogether.”

Fourteen Georgia OB-GYNs shared in response to the survey that they are considering leaving the state due to the ban, “citing an inability to provide the care their patients need and concerns over legal risk.”

FEMA cuts

On June 9, Warnock pushed for answers from Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem through an inquiry about the federal funding cuts to FEMA hindering its ability to respond to hurricanes in Georgia and throughout the country during hurricane season.

The agency's cuts have caused a staffing shortage ahead of hurricane season, which started on June 1.

According to a press release, Warnock asked Secretary Noem "to commit to ensuring that FEMA's Region IV office in Atlanta, which oversees disaster response for all of Georgia and much of the Southeast, remains fully staffed and resourced for the 2025 hurricane season."

"This administration must take immediate action to reverse their reckless cuts to FEMA," Warnock said. "This is about our safety and it's about ensuring that our government is fulfilling its most basic functions. The people of Georgia deserve answers on this and I intend to get them."

Mental health resources

On June 12, Warnock reintroduced legislation to increase school mental health professionals.

According to a press release, the Advancing Student Services in Schools Today (ASSIST) Act "would increase federal Medicaid funding for school-based mental health services and establish a grant program at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to hire and retain mental health professionals in schools, helping increase mental health services, resources and accessibility."

Under the legislation, schools could apply for federal grants to fund mental health care services.

"We know the importance of treating our mental health just as we treat our physical health: free from stigma, which is why the ASSIST Act is so important," Warnock said in a statement. "We must do everything we can to provide our students with the tools to battle the mental health epidemic. As the father of two young children, I understand why schools must have the resources to ensure students can learn and grow in their classrooms."

CDC rehires

On June 12, Warnock issued a statement about his efforts to push the Trump administration to rehire employees of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at the Atlanta-based facility following the CDC's rehiring 400 fired employees.

"I have been pressuring this administration for months to reinstate unfairly fired workers at the CDC so they can continue doing the critical work of keeping our families and communities safe from infectious diseases and other public health crises," Warnock said in his statement. "I'm glad they have heard our calls to reverse course and have seen the results of their reckless mistakes and rehired some of these workers."

"I will continue to call for all these unjustly fired workers to be rehired," he continued.

Georgia-grown pecans

On June 13, following a push from Ossoff, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will invest $24 million to support Georgia-grown pecan growers and sellers.

In February, Ossoff issued an inquiry to USDA Administrator Bruce Summers urging him to consider buying domestic pecans.

"I'm focused every day on Georgia farmers," Ossoff said in a statement. "It is the biggest industry in the State of Georgia, and Georgia farmers work tirelessly to feed the state, the country, and the world. I've got their back, and I'm going to continue working to support Georgia's agriculture."

Payment scams

On June 13, Warnock and Sens. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Mark Warner (D-Va.), and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) introduced legislation to create a task force to stop payment scams.

Payment scams happen when a scammer uses false pretenses to have the victim send them money.

The legislation comes after the Federal Trade Commission reported that reported cases of loss to fraud are up over 25% in the last year at $12.5 billion nationally. 

According to a press release, the Task Force for Recognizing and Averting Payments Scams (TRAPS) Act would "bring together industry, law enforcement, financial regulators, and telecommunication regulators to decide best practices for identifying and preventing future scams. "

"Scams and financial schemes continue to target Georgians' bank accounts, especially our seniors who work their entire lives to build savings," Warnock said in a statement. "The Task Force for Recognizing and Averting Payments Scams Act better equips law enforcement and regulators to fight back and provide much-needed protection for fraud victims, and helps prevent scams before they happen."

Military projects

On June 17, Ossoff, in his first hearing as a ranking member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, discussed funding priorities for military construction projects in Georgia.

During the hearing, Ossoff received commitments from military branches regarding the ongoing Georgia projects, "including quality-of-life upgrades for service members and their families," according to a press release.

Fort Benning

Ossoff secured a commitment from the U.S. Army to advance efforts to build a new elementary school for families in Fort Benning. The school will replace Dexter Elementary School, built in 1968.

Fort Gillem

Ossoff secured a commitment from the U.S. Army to help ensure the completion of a new forensic laboratory at the Gillem Enclave, the Department of Defense's only full-service criminal forensic laboratory.

Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany

Ossoff secured a commitment from the U.S. military to help build a new communications facility at Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany.

Robins AFB Air Logistics Complex

Ossoff secured a commitment from the U.S. Air Force to upgrade infrastructure at Robins Air Force Base's Air Logistics Complex.

Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay

Ossoff secured a commitment from the U.S. Navy to upgrade Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay's infrastructure to prepare for the Columbia-class submarine mission with new submarines.

Moody Air Force Base

Ossoff secured a commitment from the U.S. Air Force to help Moody Air Force Base prepare for the new F-35A fighter jet mission.