The Federal Emergency Management Agency is apparently out of money.
The news comes as parts of the country, particularly western North Carolina, struggle in the wake of Hurricane Helene. The storm killed at least 215 people, making it the deadliest hurricane to hit the mainland since Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
“We are meeting the immediate needs with the money that we have. We are expecting another hurricane hitting,” the Associated Press quoted Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas as saying. “FEMA does not have the funds to make it through the season.”
According to Newsweek, the federal agency has spent at least $640 million on helping communities nationwide deal with migrants. According to the New York Post, more than $1.4 billion over two years from FEMA-administered programs has gone to non-federal entities taking care of migrants.
This is easy.
Mayorkas and FEMA — immediately stop spending money on illegal immigration resettlement and redirect those funds to areas hit by the hurricane.
Put Americans first. pic.twitter.com/m8cIBhz32r
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) October 3, 2024
The federal agency has taken umbrage with assertions that its budget shortfall stems from spending on migrants.
“There’s been a lot of misinformation about FEMA’s assistance programs which is having a negative impact on our ability to help people,” FEMA Director of Public Affairs Jaclyn Rothenberg said in a statement. “We want to encourage as many people to apply for help from FEMA as possible.
“FEMA has many types of assistance available and Serious Needs Assistance is one of the many programs we offer,” Rothenberg added. “We also offer financial support for people who are displaced and staying with family and friends, need home repairs, have personal property losses and more. Serious Needs Assistance was designed to reach people as quickly as possible, so they can purchase essential items while we continue to process their disaster application and determine what other assistance they may be eligible for.”