Nearly a decade after Hurricane Maria destroyed Puerto Rico, a new federal audit found the island has gotten only a quarter of the disaster recovery funding approved for rebuilding its electricity grid, raising fresh concerns over bureaucratic delays and the slow pace of rehabilitation.
The audit, conducted by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), found that only 25% of some $14 billion in federal funds obligated for Puerto Rico's power grid after Hurricane Maria has reached the U.S. territory. Of the $11 billion obligated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) alone, some $2.7 billion has been disbursed, mostly for equipment, materials, and architecture and engineering design costs, according to the GAO report.
An Inefficient and Slow Process of Recovery
The report by the GAO exposes continuing problems that have hindered Puerto Rico’s recovery from the deadly 2017 hurricane. The sluggish pace of finance disbursement has left key infrastructure projects hanging in the balance, with the island’s electricity supply remaining frail and prone to blackouts. Bureaucratic impediments and a lack of collaboration between federal and local agencies have compounded the delays, the report said, noting that a 'significant amount' of permanent recovery work remained to be done.
As of May 2025, of more than $10 billion FEMA had obligated for Puerto Rico's permanent recovery work, only about $2 billion had been disbursed. The GAO also said that FEMA had given Puerto Rico $23.4 billion in Public Assistance funds for permanent recovery work as of June 2023, with Puerto Rico having spent $1.8 billion of that money at the time.
Political and Community Reactions
The audit has drawn sharp criticism from Puerto Rican officials and community leaders, who have long complained about the slow pace of federal aid distribution. Resident Commissioner Pablo José Hernández has repeatedly raised concerns over the delays, noting that more than $24 billion in federal funds remain undisbursed nearly nine years after the hurricane.
'Nearly nine years after Hurricane MarĂa, families are still waiting on the reconstruction they were promised,' Hernández said. 'The money has been allocated, but the bureaucracy has failed the people of Puerto Rico.'
The findings come as Puerto Rico continues to grapple with the legacy of Hurricane Maria, which caused an estimated $90 billion in damage and killed nearly 3,000 people.The delayed recovery has spurred persistent dissatisfaction and protests, with many people wondering if the federal government has made rebuilding the island a priority.
Demands for Reform and Oversight
Lawmakers have responded to the report by demanding stronger supervision and reform of the disaster recovery process. GAO report recommended FEMA enhance its interaction with Puerto Rico authorities and shorten the clearance process for recovery projects. The agency has admitted the difficulties and vowed to cooperate with the island’s government to speed up the disbursement of funding.
The assessment also comes as Puerto Rico’s electricity grid remains a critical worry for people and companies alike. In recent years, the island has suffered recurrent blackouts, highlighting the need for a new and resilient energy infrastructure. But a small percentage of the money really makes it to the island, and full recovery is still a question mark.
