FEMA Faces Funding Crisis Due To Spending On Noncitizens, Americans Left Struggling After Hurricane
The Biden-Harris administration’s handling of FEMA funds has sparked outrage as the agency, under Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, is running out of money to help Americans devastated by Hurricane Helene. With over $640 million spent in 2024 to support noncitizens, FEMA now faces a funding dilemma that is preventing them from adequately responding to the needs of American families affected by the disaster.
Hurricane Helene ripped through the southeastern U.S., leaving more than 160 dead and thousands displaced. Communities across Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, and Tennessee were devastated by the storm, with North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains especially hard hit. FEMA has registered more than 150,000 households for assistance, but as Mayorkas warned, the agency doesn’t have the resources to sustain its relief efforts for the rest of hurricane season.
“Our agency is stretched thin,” Mayorkas admitted, as FEMA works with states to deliver essential supplies like food, water, and generators. But critics point to the Biden-Harris administration’s immigration policies, accusing them of diverting funds meant for disaster relief to support migrants instead. “The federal government should not be prioritizing noncitizens while Americans are left to fend for themselves after a catastrophe like this,” argued Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL).
As the administration continues to funnel billions to foreign aid and immigration-related expenses, Americans are left waiting for help. Congress recently allocated an additional $20 billion to FEMA as part of a stopgap government funding bill, but many fear it won’t be enough to meet the growing demand for aid as hurricane season continues.
Vice President Kamala Harris’ visit to Augusta, Georgia, following the storm did little to ease concerns. Announcing just $750 in relief funds for victims, her visit paled in comparison to the efforts of Christian evangelist Franklin Graham’s Samaritan’s Purse, which distributed truckloads of supplies to hard-hit areas like Valdosta. Meanwhile, Americans remain frustrated, with reports of delayed search and rescue missions and slow federal response to the destruction.
Many argue that this crisis is a direct result of the Biden-Harris administration’s open-border policies, which have diverted resources from American families in need. As FEMA struggles to keep up with disaster relief, Americans are left to question why their government is prioritizing the needs of those who entered the country illegally over the needs of its own citizens.
