UNITED STATES—Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey received notification that their federal funding requests were denied after ordering their police departments to stand down during  riots that ensued following the death of George Floyd on May 25.  Approximately $15 million was requested in early July by Mayor Walz to rebuild the areas of Minnesota.  There is reportedly an estimated $500 million in damages including more than 1,500 businesses that were vandalized or destroyed by rioters.

The state of Minnesota has 30 days from the date that FEMA rejected their claim to file an appeal.

Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey hold a joint press conference in the middle of the night, as riots fill the Twin Cities streets for the 4th straight night

Watch Live! Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey hold a joint press conference in the middle of the night as riots fill the Twin Cities streets for the 4th straight night

Posted by Minnesota Senate Republican Caucus on Friday, May 29, 2020

Minnesota received $1.2 million in federal grants to hire 10 more police officers to help the state control the violence in the region.

On June 7, Mayor Frey, and the Minneapolis City Council agreed to begin dismantling of the Minneapolis Police Department resulting in the state of Minnesota not receiving additional federal funds requested by Governor Walz.

Congressman Tom Emmer of the 6th District agreed with President Donald Trump’s decision not to give federal funding or grants to rebuild states who defund the police and order them to stand down than protect the communities they were hired to serve. Emmer wrote a letter requesting a review of the state of Minnesota’s response to the violence.

Representative Dean Phillips complained on Twitter that the federal government would not be helping Minnesota rebuild. Senator Ted Cruz replied to Phillips in disagreement stating that Minnesota Democrats watched rioters burn their towns down and blamed the police, “whom they demonize.”