The US Congress is expected to pass $51.8 billion in a new relief package for victims of hurricane Katrina later today as vice-president Dick Cheney embarked on a tour of afflicted areas.
With the White House pushing for a quick decision on the funding representatives are expressing concern about how the money will be spent and the impact the additional expenditure will have on the US's already over-stretched budget.
With the war in Iraq having swallowing up $300 million, representatives on both sides are showing signs
Gulfport Mayor Brent Warr, left, listens as Vice President Dick Cheney answers questions from reporters in Gulfport, Mississippi.
of increasing nervousness about the staggering reconstruction bill thought to be between $150 - $200 billion.
The federal government has already exhausted a $10.5 billion fund approved just a week ago for hard-hit Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and other Gulf Coast areas.
"It's just a lot of money and people are worried that it's done correctly," said Rep. Ray LaHood, an Illinois Republican who serves on the House Appropriations Committee.
Rep David Obey of Wisconsin, the senior Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, called for the restructuring the embattled Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) which is overseeing the response to Hurricane Katrina.
"The problem is the agency we are appropriating money to has demonstrated with great clarity that it is spectacularly dysfunctional," Mr Obey said.
Mr Cheney has been in Biolloxi Mississippi, and will travel to New Orleans and Baton Rouge as he tries to assess the co-ordination of the effort. Opinion polls show a loss of confidence in the White House administration's ability to address the cash-draining Iraq question and reflect the public scorn that has been heaped it role in the relief effort.
The Vice President is expected to assess the progress made in establishing greater organisation after the first week's much criticised efforts and instill confidence in the White House's aniolity to co-ordinate an effective federal response.
National Guard troops and rescue teams continue to hunt for thousands of people unable or unwilling to leave the worst-hit city, New Orleans. Vice Admiral Thad Allen, the US Coast Guard chief-of-staff named this week to take over the federal response in the city, said authorities would comb the city.
Authorities are struggling to give accurate estimates as to how many people are dead and how many others are defying the instruction to evacuate. Some 25,000 body bags have been prepared and temporary morgues have been told to expect more bodies than anticipated.
Nato has been asked for help in transporting European aid to the victims amid concern assistance is not getting through quickly enough. US ambassador Victoria Nuland asked allies at an emergency meeting today to study "a stronger logistical and transport role" for NATO.
"There was broad support for this in the meeting today," a US mission spokesman said. A decision is expected tomorrow.
Agencies