New MATCH Act Lets Local Governments Start Disaster Cleanup Early, But They Carry the Financial Risk

The aptly named Making Access To Cleanup Happen Act of 2025, or MATCH Act, takes aim at the bureaucratic lag time that often slows down disaster recovery. Specifically, Section 2 deals with the Emergency Watershed Program (EWP), a federal effort that helps communities recover from floods and other natural events by stabilizing stream banks and rebuilding infrastructure. The big change here is allowing state and local governments, as well as Indian Tribes (who are designated as "sponsors"), to start certain emergency work before the federal government officially signs off on the funding agreement.

The Need for Speed in Disaster Recovery

Think of a major flood washing out a local road or causing a massive mudslide that threatens a neighborhood. Under the old system, local officials had to wait for the paperwork and the final sign-off from the Secretary to start expensive, necessary repairs. This bill recognizes that sometimes, waiting just isn't an option. It instructs the Secretary to create a list of emergency steps that sponsors can immediately begin paying for and get credit for later. Furthermore, it creates a process—complete with deadlines—for sponsors to request permission to start other emergency measures early for a specific disaster. Essentially, this is about giving local leadership the flexibility to act fast when disaster hits.

The Catch: Who Holds the Bag?

While the speed boost sounds great, there’s a massive catch written right into the bill: risk. If a sponsor—say, a county government—decides to jump the gun and start emergency work before the final agreement is signed, they are explicitly taking on the financial risk. If the Secretary later decides not to sign the final agreement for the project, or if some of the costs aren't deemed "eligible," the county is stuck footing the bill. This provision clearly shifts the financial liability onto the local sponsor, meaning local taxpayers could be on the hook if the federal government declines to participate later on. On the flip side, if the project is approved, those pre-agreement costs will count toward the local sponsor’s required cost-share, meaning they get credit for their rapid response.

What This Means for Your Town

For communities prone to flash flooding or wildfires, this change could mean the difference between getting essential protective measures installed immediately versus waiting months for bureaucratic approval. For example, a local water district could immediately hire contractors to stabilize a critical stream bank after a storm, knowing they can submit those costs for credit once the EWP agreement is finalized. However, this also means local officials need to be extremely careful and calculated about the work they prioritize. If they misjudge what the federal government will approve, they could end up using local tax dollars on projects that never receive federal support. The bill leaves the details of what counts as an "eligible cost" and the approval process up to the Secretary to define within 180 days, which is where the real administrative power—and potential vagueness—lies.