Fact Check: Did Biden-Harris Migrant Spending Drain FEMA Hurricane Budget?

Former President Donald Trump‘s campaign doubled down Friday on claims that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) had run out of money to help those hit by Hurricane Helene because of the Biden administration’s spending on services for migrants.

The concerns about FEMA’s cash flow came after Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said on Wednesday that the agency would struggle for funding for the rest of the hurricane season.

Republicans, including Texas Governor Greg Abbott, then claimed that over $640 million had been spent by FEMA on migrants when it could have been used to plug the funding gap.

Stephen Miller, a Trump surrogate and the mastermind behind his immigration policy, said on Fox News that FEMA spending money on migrants is “the gravest betrayal this country has ever seen.” Fox host Tammy Bruce also reiterated the claims in a social media post.

The Department of Homeland Security and FEMA have denied the claims.

The Claim

The idea that FEMA funding had run low because of spending on immigrants began on X, with the Trump campaign making the same claim to Newsweek Friday.

“FEMA has run out of money for the rest of hurricane season because Kamala Harris used the funds for free giveaways to illegal immigrants. This is inexcusable and yet another example of Kamala Harris putting Americans LAST!” Karoline Leavitt, Trump Campaign National Press Secretary, said in an emailed statement.

Newsweek has contacted the Harris campaign for comment in response to the allegations made by the Trump campaign.

The Facts

FEMA distributes money to migrants

The $650 million cited by Republicans refers to the Shelter and Services Program (SSP), which had a budget of that amount for Fiscal Year 2024, which ended on September 30.

SSP allocates funds to migrant support groups, nonprofits, and state and local governments to distribute to those in need of shelter, food or medical care.

While the funds are distributed by FEMA, they do not come from the agency’s budget.

The DHS Appropriations Act 2024 shows that the money is from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) budget, which is then given to FEMA to hand out, “helping to facilitate the safe, orderly, and humane release of asylum seekers and families”.

CBP influences where the cash is spent, with a requirement to send operational data to FEMA on a quarterly basis. This data helps guide FEMA on where to allocate the funds, particularly to shelters that support CBP’s border security mission.

The first wave of funding for 2024 came in April, with $259.13 million allocated. Another round was announced late August.

Previous recipients of those funds include counties such as Pima County in Arizona, which received $21.8 million, as well as smaller church ministry organizations with grants around $10,000.

States along the border and elsewhere have previously seen grants. In the last round, over 30 Texas organizations and local governments were given cash.

Does FEMA have enough money?

Mayorkas said there was enough money available for FEMA to meet the needs of the communities impacted by Hurricane Helene, as he suggested that another storm would lead to problems.

“We are meeting the immediate needs with the money that we have,” Mayorkas told reporters on Air Force One. “We are expecting another hurricane hitting. We do not have the funds. FEMA does not have the funds to make it through the season and what is imminent.”

A spokesperson for DHS later told Newsweek that the claims made by the GOP were “completely false”.

FEMA was forced to set up a page to address rumors surrounding its response to Hurricane Helene, which has killed at least 200 people and devastated large swaths of rural Georgia and North Carolina.

Addressing claims that FEMA does not have enough money to help with the aftermath of the storm, the page reads: “FEMA has enough money right now for immediate response and recovery needs. If you were affected by Helene, do not hesitate to apply for disaster assistance, as there is a variety of help available for different needs.”

For the new financial year, which began Oct. 1, FEMA laid out a need for $33.1 billion. Congress then approved a temporary stopgap of $20 billion as it sought to stop a government shutdown before going into recess.

That money does not meet the needs for the Disaster Relief Fund (DRF), which lawmakers reportedly removed additional funding for in an attempt to get the stopgap through.

The DRF mostly covers costs of previous emergencies, including flooding and wildfires. FEMA also has the option to ask for emergency funding from the White House to deal with the aftermath of disasters like the hurricane.

“As FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell has said, she has the full authority to spend against the President’s budget, but we’re not out of hurricane season yet, so we need to keep a close eye on it,” Jaclyn Rothenberg, a spokesperson for FEMA, told Newsweek Thursday afternoon. “We may need to go back into immediate needs funding and we will be watching it closely.”

The Biden administration had already disbursed over $10 million in “flexible and upfront” assistance to the states affected, FEMA said in a press release.

The federal relief agency had shipped over 8.8 million meals, more than 7.4 million liters of water, 150 generators, and more than 225,000 tarps to the storm zone, it said.

Crews were also helping to restore power and set up satellite internet links for those without service.

Over 1,600 interactions with people and animals, including rescues and evacuations, had also taken place with federal assistance.

President Joe Biden also said his administration would cover 100 percent of the costs for the first 180 days in Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina.

The Ruling

False.

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