Beach erosion at the Jersey Shore is reaching a tipping point after Hurricane Erin chewed up parts of the coastline earlier this month, when some towns like Monmouth Beach lost half their sand.

In response, U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-2nd) met this week with mayors of several Shore communities to talk about beach replenishment projects, some of which are at risk due to uncertainty around federal support.

The House Appropriations Committee recently approved $60 million for New Jersey beach replenishment in 2026, down from an expected $200 million. But Van Drew disputed what will be the final funding levels.

“The money that we’ve got for all of these big projects that have taken place in the past was money that came from supplemental funding, that came from earmarks that I did, that came from the transportation and infrastructure bill which I voted for,” said Van Drew. “And it came from even a little bit of [Hurricane] Sandy funding.”

“We’re looking for a permanent source of funding, so no one has to go through this year after year which has been the history,” he said.