Summary
The Biden administration is defending the separation of funding for disaster relief and assistance for migrants, emphasizing that no disaster relief funds have been used to support migrant housing and services. This defense comes in response to claims from some lawmakers and former President Donald Trump, who allege that FEMA’s resources have been compromised due to its involvement in migrant assistance.
In a recent letter, Republican senators expressed concern that FEMA’s engagement with the southern border crisis may hinder its disaster response capabilities, particularly in light of the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. They highlighted the approximately $650 million FEMA has allocated for migrant assistance through the Shelter and Services Program (SSP), which they argue diverts attention from FEMA’s primary mission. However, the Biden administration has clarified that the SSP is a separate program funded by Congress and not related to FEMA’s disaster response budget. White House officials assert that FEMA has sufficient resources to address immediate needs related to disaster recovery, despite ongoing political tensions surrounding immigration and border policy.
Senators fear FEMA ‘entanglement’ with border crisis could hurt disaster response mission
Oct. 4 / Fox News / Highlights the concerns of Republican senators regarding FEMA's involvement in migrant assistance amidst disaster relief efforts, offering a detailed account of political tensions and funding clarifications. “ Outnumbered panelists discuss the Biden administrations delayed efforts in responding to the devastation from Hurricane Helene. FIRST ON FOX : A group of...
Trump said Biden, Harris 'stole' FEMA money to help migrants
Oct. 3 / The Washington Times , America’s Newspaper / Presents Trump's claims that the Biden administration misallocated FEMA funds for migrants, providing a stark perspective on the funding debate but lacks depth compared to other sources addressing broader implications. “ Former President Donald Trump said the White House doesn't have any money available to deal with aiding those affected by Hurricane Helene because they used...