The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has responded to accusations suggesting that its funds are being diverted towards supporting illegal migrants instead of disaster relief following Hurricane Helene. This comes after prominent Republicans, including Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Donald Trump Jr., voiced concerns that $640 million from FEMA’s budget was being used for migrant assistance, leaving the agency short of resources for hurricane response.
Governor Abbott took to social media, calling for FEMA to redirect funds allocated to migrant services towards hurricane-hit areas. He posted on X (formerly Twitter), “Mayorkas and FEMA — immediately stop spending money on illegal immigration resettlement and redirect those funds to areas hit by the hurricane. Put Americans first.”
Echoing this sentiment, Donald Trump Jr. criticized the agency for reportedly using nearly $1 billion over the last two years to support illegal immigration, contributing to FEMA’s supposed financial struggles. He claimed this reduced FEMA’s ability to respond adequately to disasters like Hurricane Helene, which recently ravaged the East Coast and claimed over 120 lives.
In response, FEMA established a fact-check page to counter these rumors. The agency reassured the public that it has sufficient funds for ongoing disaster response efforts, encouraging those affected by Hurricane Helene to apply for assistance without hesitation. FEMA emphasized that $20 billion in disaster relief funds had been allocated by Congress, ensuring the agency’s preparedness for future emergencies.
Addressing the false claims directly, FEMA clarified that no disaster relief funds had been redirected towards migrant services. The agency’s disaster response efforts, funded through the Disaster Relief Fund, remain intact and separate from other programs. FEMA refuted the notion that resources for hurricane recovery were being used elsewhere, including for the Shelter and Services Program (SSP) designed to support non-citizens.
Texas Representative Dan Crenshaw joined in criticizing the Biden administration, accusing it of prioritizing immigration over disaster recovery. However, the Department of Homeland Security firmly denied these allegations, stating that the SSP operates under a separate, congressionally appropriated budget, unrelated to FEMA’s disaster relief funding.
Further, FEMA addressed other circulating rumors regarding its operations, including false claims of asking for donations or confiscating supplies during disaster recovery efforts. The agency clarified that it neither seeks cash donations nor prevents voluntary aid efforts, urging the public to remain vigilant against scammers posing as FEMA representatives.
Despite the political controversy, FEMA stressed that its main goal is to help communities affected by Hurricane Helene, making sure all available resources are used for disaster recovery.