Political storm rages over FEMA disaster relief weeks before Election Day

After the devastation of Hurricane Helene, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) appears to be facing a storm of its own, as allegations of mismanagement and obstruction fly just weeks before the November election.

A series of Republicans and alleged whistleblowers have accused the agency of mismanaging funds that were designated for disaster relief and using it for illegal immigrants at the southern border instead.

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Wednesday admitted to reporters that FEMA does not “have the funds to make it through the [hurricane] season," but said it does have enough to handle Hurricane Helene, which has resulted in over 200 deaths since making landfall in Florida last week.

The secretary and FEMA have not indicated how much more money they would be needing to get through the rest of the season, which concludes at the end of November, but said the money approved through Congress' continuing resolution would not be enough. 

Republicans raise allegations FEMA uses disaster relief money on migrants

A group of Republican senators expressed concern on Friday over the allegations that FEMA's "entanglement" with the border crisis could impact its ability to provide disaster relief.

"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 to Mayorkas. "Rather than ensuring FEMA is ready to respond to hurricanes and other emergencies, FEMA has been pulled into a border crisis mission."

The senators also requested information on how many full-time FEMA employees have since been deployed at the border, and how much money FEMA reprogrammed to support its border-related mission duties.

Florida GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz backed up the senators' concerns in his own letter to Mayorkas on Friday, in which he claimed FEMA whistleblowers said the agency used taxpayer funds marked for disaster relief on non-disaster-relief programs that housed and supported illegal immigrants on the country's southern border. 

Gaetz also said that he was told by whistleblowers that FEMA employees are on the ground in areas impacted by the hurricane, such as North Carolina, but do not have deployment orders so they are waiting on the clock in hotels.

Federal government responds to misuse allegations

FEMA, the White House, and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have denied all of the allegations of misappropriating its funds, claiming the money used for the border and for disaster relief are from two separate programs. The agency has even created a "rumor response" page on its website.

"No money is being diverted from disaster response needs," the agency said in a news release. "FEMA’s disaster response efforts and individual assistance is funded through the Disaster Relief Fund, which is a dedicated fund for disaster efforts. Disaster Relief Fund money has not been diverted to other non-disaster related efforts. 

"The funding for communities to support migrants is appropriated by Congress to Customs and Border Patrol – it has nothing to do with FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund," it added. 

FEMA has spent approximately $650 million on grants to non-profits and local authorities that resettle and aid migrants so far, per Fox News, and has sent employees down to the border to help address the increase in unaccompanied minors that began in 2021. But the money for grants is far less than the roughly $20 billion budget for the agency's disaster relief fund.

Elon Musk alleges aid being blocked 

Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk on Friday also criticized the federal response to Hurricane Helene, claiming that the government was blocking flights trying to bring Starlinks and aid to hurricane victims, after a source told Musk the airspace was shut down. 

The source texted Musk that FEMA is blocking shipments and seizing goods from volunteers. He also claimed the government is throttling private flights in the North Carolina airspace, which is making it harder to bring in supplies and Starlinks.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg denied the reports that they are making it harder for civilians to help with disaster relief, stating that “no one is shutting down the airspace and FAA doesn’t block legitimate rescue and recovery flights."

FEMA also denied the accusation, stating that reports they were confiscating aid meant for the survivors were "false" but that such rumors often spread after disasters.

"FEMA does not take donations and/or food from survivors or voluntary organizations," the agency said in its news release. "Donations of food, water, or other goods are handled by voluntary agencies who specialize in storing, sorting, cleaning and distributing donated items."

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