The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), headed by President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, has set up a “Rumor Response” webpage to counteract claims that the agency is diverting disaster relief money to newly released migrants from the United States-Mexico border. This comes as many Americans in regions like Appalachia continue to suffer the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, a storm that has left hundreds of thousands without power and caused significant damage.
On FEMA’s website, officials have established a “Hurricane Rumor Response” page, where they attempt to debunk various rumors related to disaster relief efforts. One such rumor concerns the alleged use of FEMA funds to aid migrants arriving at the nation’s southern border. The webpage states.
Rumor: Funding for FEMA disaster response was diverted to support international efforts or border-related issues.
The page then clarifies that this claim is false, as no money is being diverted from disaster response needs. It explains that FEMA’s disaster response efforts and individual assistance are funded through the Disaster Relief Fund, a dedicated fund for disaster efforts. The statement reiterates that Disaster Relief Fund money has not been used for any non-disaster related efforts.
However, FEMA officials do not address the fact that close to $700 million in FEMA funds has gone towards helping migrants who crossed the border and were released into the American interior since Biden and Harris took office. This week, a group of Senate Republicans wrote to both the President and Vice President, warning that FEMA’s increased spending on migrants arriving at the border could jeopardize its disaster relief mission.
We are concerned that your Administration’s reliance on FEMA to address the ongoing border crisis, under Vice President Harris as ‘border czar,’ has diminished FEMA’s readiness for disaster relief, including hurricane response,” the Senators wrote in their letter.
Further criticism of FEMA’s spending priorities comes from Rep. Mark Green (R-TN), who chairs the House Homeland Security Committee. He criticized Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for requesting more money for disaster relief following Hurricane Helene.
It takes a lot of nerve for Secretary Mayorkas to ask for more money after he and his bosses in the White House fought for roughly $650 million just this year for the Shelter and Services Program,” Green said in a statement.
He argued that under Biden and Harris’ leadership, tax dollars are being used to facilitate illegal immigration while American citizens are left to suffer following natural disasters like Hurricane Helene, which has claimed nearly 230 lives and left more than 200,000 North Carolina residents without power.