FIRST ON FOX: FEMA unleashes $2.2B in disaster relief funding across 25 states: 'Cutting red tape'

The move comes as a winter storm ripped across the U.S., spanning from the Southwest to Northeast, claiming dozens of lives and leaving hundreds of thousands without power. 

"American communities are rebuilding stronger, and today's approvals show this administration's commitment to cutting red tape and getting recovery dollars out the door faster."

The relief dollars are not solely tied to the winter storm and will support 1,721 recovery projects for previous disasters.

Sources at FEMA tell Fox News Digital the resources will be used for repairs to educational centers, restoration of critical infrastructure, debris removal and costs incurred during emergencies.

"There has been a lot of back and forth about the future of FEMA, but no one can deny that this is an historic public assistance announcement," a source at the agency told Fox News Digital. "Americans are going to notice this seismic shift."

FEMA regularly issues funds to states that apply for disaster relief assistance, but the agency says this amount is significant and will have a direct impact on critical projects.