FEMA Funding Claims: Misunderstandings Surrounding Relief Efforts.
Recent social media posts claim that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has exhausted its emergency relief funds to house illegal immigrants. These posts suggest that this misallocation of funds has left FEMA unable to assist in hurricane recovery efforts in places like Hawaii and North Carolina.
One viral post states, “Hawaii got wiped out, North Carolina got wiped out, and there’s no money to help them because Kamala Harris gave all the FEMA money to illegals.” Another asserts, “FEMA doesn’t have any more money because it spent $1.3 billion on immigrants. This could be the October surprise that nobody saw coming.”
Former President Donald Trump echoed these claims during a speech in Michigan on October 3. He alleged, “Kamala spent all her FEMA money, billions of dollars, on housing for illegal migrants, many of whom should not be in our country. The Harris-Biden administration says they don’t have any money; they’ve spent it all.”
However, these claims are false. While FEMA does allocate funds to support noncitizens, this funding is distinct from its disaster relief operations.
FEMA administers the Shelter and Services Program (SSP), which provides grants to state and local governments, nonprofits, and tribal organizations. This program assists noncitizen immigrants released from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) custody while they await immigration court proceedings. Services funded through the SSP include shelter, food, transportation, and medical care. The program also covers secondary services like facility repairs, translation services, and administrative costs. For fiscal year 2023, the SSP received $363.8 million in funding, and it is set to receive $650 million in 2024. Notably, while FEMA administers the SSP, the program’s funding originates from the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) budget.
FEMA’s disaster relief efforts, including its ongoing response to Hurricane Helene, are funded through its disaster relief fund. This fund received over $20 billion for fiscal year 2024 from the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, along with an additional $15.5 billion from the Continuing Appropriations Act.
Last week, DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas addressed the media, stating that while FEMA is meeting immediate hurricane response needs, it will require additional funding from Congress to navigate the rest of the hurricane season. “We are expecting another hurricane to hit,” he warned. “We do not have the funds. FEMA does not have the funds to make it through the season and what is imminent.” Although last month’s continuing resolution extended funding for FEMA at current levels, proposed additional supplemental funding was excluded from the resolution’s early drafts.
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