
More than a decade ago, when the World Trade Center towers were being built, building materials were scarce and the U.S. government put a lot of focus on getting the building materials that could be used.
Today, building construction materials are in limited supply and building projects have to be funded through federal stimulus money.
This week, President Donald Trump announced $2.5 billion for the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development to help rebuild neighborhoods, including many in areas hit hard by the 9/11 attacks.
The funding will also provide $400 million for rebuilding homes in low-income communities, as well as $350 million for the Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory to help make energy more affordable and reliable.
“There are going to be some very tough times ahead for a lot more of our communities,” said Michael Pachter, the head of the federal agency that coordinates the federal recovery effort.
“The challenges are enormous and the resources are vast.”
The U.K. government, meanwhile, has put more than $50 billion into rebuilding homes and other public buildings after the attacks, and $30 billion in federal funds have been earmarked for new homes.
While Trump’s announcement is still in its early stages, many of the projects are already underway, with some of the biggest projects scheduled to start next year.
The National Energy Board is also planning a major cleanup effort, with an initial focus on rebuilding power plants.
The cleanup will involve a number of projects, including a $300 million plan to clean up some of New Jersey’s worst-hit regions and a $400-million plan to restore water and power in areas of the state hit hard.