FEMA Refutes Baseless Claims of Diverted Funds, Focuses on Hurricane Helene Relief Efforts

Deanne Criswell, the administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), has forcefully rejected the false claim that the agency is short of money due to funds being diverted to support migrants. This narrative, promoted by former President Donald Trump and other Republicans, has been dismissed by Criswell as "frankly ridiculous and just plain false."

Cutting Through the Noise: FEMA's Commitment to Disaster Response

Addressing the Funding Crunch

FEMA is currently facing a funding crunch as it deploys significant resources and personnel to provide relief efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, which devastated the Southeast region less than two weeks ago. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has acknowledged this shortfall, stating that FEMA does not have enough money to make it through the hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30.However, Criswell has been adamant in her rejection of the claim that this funding shortage is the result of money being diverted to support migrants. In fact, the approximately $1 billion that has been allocated to the Shelter and Services Program, which provides financial assistance to groups offering shelter and other services to non-citizen migrants, does not come from FEMA's budget. This program is funded through a separate funding pot that is not connected to FEMA's Disaster Relief Fund, which currently stands at almost $20 billion.

Debunking the Misinformation

Criswell has been vocal in her criticism of the "dangerous" and "truly dangerous" rhetoric that is fueling these false claims about FEMA's funding. She has emphasized that this kind of misinformation is not helpful and is, in fact, creating fear and discouraging people from seeking the critical assistance they need.In response to these baseless rumors, FEMA has set up a dedicated fact-check page on its website, where the agency has explicitly denied the claims that any money is being diverted from disaster response needs. The White House has also released a memo warning that the spread of false information could "discourage people from seeking critical assistance" during the ongoing hurricane response and recovery efforts.

Maintaining Bipartisan Support

Criswell has stressed that FEMA has enjoyed the "complete support of the state" and the "local officials" in its efforts to provide relief and assistance in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. She has pushed back against the claim that Republican areas of the affected states are being intentionally ignored, emphasizing the agency's commitment to serving all communities in need, regardless of political affiliation.This bipartisan approach to disaster response is a hallmark of FEMA's operations, and Criswell has made it clear that the agency will not allow political rhetoric to interfere with its mission of helping people in times of crisis. By maintaining this focus on the task at hand, FEMA aims to ensure that the critical resources and support reach those who need it most, without being hindered by the spread of misinformation or partisan agendas.