Republican senators concerned that FEMA 'entanglement' with border crisis could hurt disaster relief

A group of Republican senators on Friday expressed concern that the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) "entanglement" with the border crisis could impact its ability to provide disaster relief to areas impacted by a recent hurricane.

Hurricane Helene hit Florida last week as a Category Four storm, and has caused serious damage in Georgia, North and South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. More than 200 people are dead from the storm, and North Carolina appeared to be the hardest hit.

FEMA has spent approximately $650 million on grants to non-profits and local authorities that resettle and aid migrants so far, and has sent employees down to the border to help address the increase in unaccompanied minors that began in 2021, Fox News reported.

The senators, led by Oklahoma's GOP Sen. James Lankford, sent a letter to President Joe Biden on Friday, sharing their concerns over FEMA's readiness.

"FEMA’s continued entanglement in DHS’s efforts to respond to the border crisis could impact its readiness and emergency response mission," the Republican lawmakers wrote. "Rather than ensuring FEMA is ready to respond to hurricanes and other emergencies, FEMA has been pulled into a border crisis mission."

FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security have pushed back on concerns that the money the department uses to relocate and house illegal immigrants is being taken from the disaster relief funds. The money instead comes from a different program funded by Congress, which requires FEMA to use funding shifted over from Customs and Border Protection.

"No disaster relief funding at all was used to support migrants housing and services. None. At. All," White House Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates said in a memo. "In fact, the funding for communities to support migrants is directly appropriated by Congress to CBP, and is merely administered by FEMA. The funding is in no way related to FEMA’s response and recovery efforts."

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas clarified that FEMA has the resources necessary to meet the "immediate need," but that it needs more than what has been allocated through the continuing resolution for future stability.

Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, Josh Hawley of Missouri, and Roger Marshall of Kansas, also signed the letter.

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.