A study has found that the bulk of federal funds slated for post-hurricane reconstruction efforts in Puerto Rico are going to mainland companies, despite a federal law that states local companies should receive priority.
The Center for a New Economy said Wednesday that of the nearly $5 billion awarded by the U.S. government by late August for work in Puerto Rico, nearly $4.3 billion has been awarded to mainland U.S. firms and less than 10 percent to Puerto Rico companies. The think tank analyzed a federal database of post-hurricane contracts.
The study also found that the U.S. spent almost $12 billion in the first 336 days after Hurricane Katrina, more than double spent in contracts post-Maria in Puerto Rico.
FEMA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
