by Eric Lendrum
Republicans on Congress’ top committee have launched an investigation into the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) over its “priorities” after reports surfaced that the agency spent most of its money on helping illegal aliens, so much so that it remained its little money to deal with the effects of hurricanes Helene and Milton.
According to Fox NewsMajority members of the House Homeland Security Committee issued a letter declaring that the committee is “investigating [DHS’] prioritizing its ability to adequately respond to natural disasters.”
The scandal began when DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, who oversees the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), admitted that FEMA did not have enough money to provide stable aid throughout this year’s hurricane season after Hurricane Helene hit six southwestern -eastern states, and Hurricane Milton hit Florida.
“We have the most urgent needs now,” Mayorkas tried to backtrack. “In the case of continuous resolution, we have the funds, but it is not a stable source of supply, if you will. This is a multi-billion-dollar, multi-year economic recovery.”
Conservatives soon began to point out that, under the Biden-Harris administration, FEMA had repeatedly funded purported nonprofits and other groups intended to provide financial assistance to illegal aliens. This year alone, FEMA has provided $650 million in illegal aid. In turn, FEMA’s offer to victims of the recent hurricanes was only $750 per person.
“The committee…is concerned that the Department and FEMA may have failed to adequately notify Congress of their need for additional disaster relief funds while requesting immense sums of money to fund the FEMA Shelter and Services Program (SSP), a grant program intended to “to provide funding to non-federal entities that provide shelter and services to migrants encountered by the Department, including illegal aliens,” the lawmakers’ letter continued.
In total, FEMA is estimated to have provided more than $1.4 billion in humanitarian assistance through the SSP Program and the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP).
Last week, a group of Republican senators sent a letter to the White House asking whether “continued involvement in DHS’s efforts to respond to the border crisis could impact its readiness and crisis response mission.” The letter also noted that “FEMA’s efforts to respond to the border crisis could be significantly more limited if your administration instead used your authorities to secure the border.”
Hurricane Helene hit the states of Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and parts of Tennessee and Virginia. Less than a week later, Hurricane Milton hit Florida.
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Eric Lendrum reports for American Greatness.
Photo “FEMA” by FEMA.