A congressional investigation has been launched into the Biden administration's allocation of resources between disaster relief and migrant assistance programs.
Fox News reported that the House Homeland Security Committee is probing the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) prioritization of funds for natural disaster response and migrant-related expenses. The inquiry comes amid concerns over the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) ability to adequately respond to recent hurricanes.
Republicans on the committee have expressed worry about the department's funding requests to Congress, particularly regarding the allocation of resources between disaster relief and programs supporting migrants and illegal immigrants.
DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas recently warned about unstable funding for FEMA during the hurricane season, despite assurances that immediate needs are covered. The department has pushed for Congress to approve a supplemental spending bill to address these concerns.
In response to criticism, DHS has repeatedly emphasized that funding for migrant-related programs comes from separate appropriations and does not impact the Disaster Relief Fund (DRF). A DHS spokesperson stated:
These claims are completely false. As Secretary Mayorkas said, FEMA has the necessary resources to meet the immediate needs associated with Hurricane Helene and other disasters. 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.
The department maintains that there is no intermingling of funds between disaster relief and migrant support programs.
Despite DHS assurances, Republican lawmakers have raised questions about the department's priorities in requesting funding from Congress. The committee's letter to Secretary Mayorkas highlighted that Congress has met or exceeded budget requests for disaster relief in recent fiscal years.
The lawmakers pointed out that FEMA has disbursed over $1.4 billion through the Shelter and Services Program (SSP) and the Emergency Food and Shelter Program for humanitarian aid. In contrast, they noted that $344 million has been spent on federal assistance for communities impacted by Hurricane Helene.
The investigation by the House Homeland Security Committee is not the only inquiry into FEMA's operations. A group of Republican senators recently expressed concern about FEMA's involvement in border-related activities and its potential impact on the agency's readiness for emergency response.
These senators questioned whether FEMA's continued involvement in addressing the border crisis could affect its primary mission of disaster response and preparedness. They suggested that the administration could have limited FEMA's border-related work by using existing authorities to secure the border.
The ongoing debate highlights the complex challenges faced by DHS and FEMA in balancing multiple priorities. While the department insists that disaster relief funding remains intact and separate from migrant assistance programs, critics argue that the overall allocation of resources and attention may be skewed.
The controversy underscores the political tensions surrounding immigration policy and disaster response. As natural disasters continue to pose threats to various regions of the country, the ability of federal agencies to respond effectively remains a critical concern for lawmakers and citizens alike.
The House Homeland Security Committee's investigation aims to shed light on DHS's funding priorities and ensure that disaster relief capabilities are not compromised. The outcome of this probe could have significant implications for future budget allocations and the department's approach to managing multiple crises simultaneously.
