Recent concerns regarding Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding have caused some Americans to call into question how U.S. funding of FEMA compares to aid sent to Ukraine.
Last week, the House of Representatives and the Senate approved a continuing resolution, which extends FEMA funding through December 20 and permits the agency to access those funds more quickly. But FEMA faces a multibillion-dollar deficit, even after imposing new spending restrictions last month. The agency is forgoing some ongoing rebuilding projects related to disaster repair to be better financially equipped to face immediate needs related to natural disasters.
How FEMA Funding Compares to Ukraine Aid
Since the war between Russia and Ukraine began in 2022, the U.S. has provided Ukraine with almost $60 billion for weapons and security, according to the Associated Press. However, the U.S. Government Accountability Office, an independent, nonpartisan agency, claims that U.S. aid to Ukraine is even higher.
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, alongside FEMA Deputy Administrator Erik Hooks (L), speaks after she surveyed the damage from Hurricane Helene, in the Meadowbrook neighborhood of Augusta, Georgia, on October 2, 2024. FEMA has recently come under scrutiny, with some Americans questioning why the U.S. has provided more funding to Ukraine than to FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund from 2022 onward.
Brendan Smialowski/Getty
“Congress responded to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine with funding of about $176 billion for U.S. agencies to provide arms to Ukraine, aid civilians, impose sanctions, and more,” the website said.
President Joe Biden recently announced an additional $2.4 billion assistance package for Ukraine on September 26.
In comparison, in 2022, Congress appropriated $18.8 billion in annual funding for FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund, which is the primary funding for domestic disaster relief programs and has appropriated roughly $20 billion each year thereafter. Additional appropriations measured in the billions of dollars were made in 2023 and 2024. Most recently, Congress approved a continuing resolution that provided FEMA with an additional $20 billion in disaster relief funds to be used through December 20.
Newsweek reached out to the White House by email for comment.
FEMA Funds for Hurricane Helene Victims
Meanwhile, Hurricane Helene ravaged several states last week, killing at least 200 people and leaving many others displaced and without necessary supplies. Some fear the death toll is much higher than what has been reported.
On Wednesday, Vice President Kamala Harris announced that FEMA workers were going door-to-door in affected areas to provide residents with immediate relief money worth $750. The $750 is part of a larger effort to provide aid to those impacted by the hurricane.
“FEMA is also providing tens of thousands more dollars for folks to help them be able to deal with home repair, to be able to cover a deductible when and if they have insurance, and also hotel costs,” Harris said at the time.
Despite FEMA’s ongoing efforts, several Americans took to social media to express that the aid for hurricane victims wasn’t high enough when compared to the funding U.S. has approved for Ukraine since the war with Russia began in 2022.
“Let’s check in on our government: Biden announced a new $2.4B aid package to Ukraine last week while Kamala announced today that victims of Hurricane Helene will get a mere $750,” one post said. “Oh, and FEMA doesn’t have enough money to make it through hurricane season yet spent $640M on illegal aliens.”
“$2.4B to Ukraine. $750 to the victims of Hurricane Helen $1B+ of FEMA money to illegal aliens No FEMA funds for hurricane survivors,” another said.
“How is the US GOVERNMENT running out of money for Hurricane Helene victims?!” one post said. “They were able to find $63.1 BILLION and counting for Ukraine. FEMA spent over a BILLION on illegal immigrants. But the Americans in Appalachia? $750 bucks. THIS IS AN INSULT.”
Many of the accounts criticizing the government only highlighted the immediate aid money of $750, despite the longer-term efforts by FEMA to help Americans with larger costs, such as housing.
FEMA Scrutiny
Scrutiny about FEMA spending has increased in recent weeks after FEMA spent money on assisting communities across the country dealing with an influx of migrants through its Shelter and Services Program (SSP). The program had a budget of $640 million for the 2024 Fiscal Year, which ended on September 30.
Former President Donald Trump has criticized the SSP, which helps local governments and nonprofits support migrants. However, FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security have denied that any FEMA disaster relief funds have gone to the program.
“The Shelter and Services Program (SSP) is a completely separate, appropriated grant program that was authorized and funded by Congress and is not associated in any way with FEMA’s disaster-related authorities or funding streams,” a DHS spokesperson previously told Newsweek.
However, claims are now surfacing that FEMA doesn’t have enough money to assist those in need after Hurricane Helene caused catastrophic damage across several states, including North Carolina.
FEMA Director of Public Affairs Jaclyn Rothenberg previously told Newsweek that FEMA has enough funding to support the Hurricane Helene response and any subsequent disasters through December 20.
