As states across the southeastern U.S. grapple with the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Helene, a grim warning from Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has raised alarms. Appearing on “Fox & Friends First” Thursday, Mayorkas revealed that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is running dangerously low on funds, sparking outrage among officials and citizens alike. Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody was among the most vocal critics, slamming Mayorkas over the government’s spending priorities.
A Looming Funding Crisis
During his appearance, Mayorkas delivered a sobering message: “We are meeting the immediate needs with the money that we have. We are expecting another hurricane hitting. We do not have the funds. FEMA does not have the funds to make it through the season,” he said on Wednesday, leaving many to question how prepared the agency is for future storms.
Moody, who has been critical of the Biden administration’s handling of immigration and disaster preparedness, expressed her outrage on Fox News, highlighting the administration’s use of funds for purposes she claims are unrelated to emergency management.
Moody’s Criticism
“Everyone should be waking up this morning outraged by that comment,” Moody said, pointing to what she described as mismanagement of federal resources. She accused Mayorkas of “infecting” FEMA with policies that prioritize illegal immigration over disaster relief. According to Moody, the FEMA emergency food and shelter program has been transformed into what she called “an illegal immigrant resettlement program,” diverting funds away from their intended purpose.
Moody elaborated on how these decisions have exacerbated the challenges facing states in the wake of Hurricane Helene, which devastated communities across Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee. “They’ve been laundering [money] from the intended purpose of this fund that Congress set forth. Laws be damned,” she said .
Hurricane Helene’s Destruction
Hurricane Helene made landfall last week as a powerful Category 4 storm, ravaging states across the Southeast. The death toll has now risen to over 190, with hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses destroyed in its wake . Recovery efforts are still in full swing, with FEMA leading the charge, but the agency’s financial constraints have become a growing concern as another storm is projected to make landfall in the coming days.
DHS Pushback
In response to Moody’s claims, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a statement on Thursday, rejecting allegations that immigration-related spending is tied to FEMA’s disaster relief budget. “These claims are completely false,” DHS officials said, clarifying that the Shelter and Services Program (SSP), which aids migrants, is funded separately from FEMA’s disaster relief resources . The statement emphasized that FEMA has “the necessary resources to meet the immediate needs associated with Hurricane Helene and other disasters.”
As Hurricane Helene’s victims await aid and recovery, the tension between state and federal officials highlights a broader debate over government spending priorities. With hurricane season far from over and FEMA’s budget under strain, the Biden administration faces increasing pressure to ensure that disaster response efforts are adequately funded, while addressing concerns over the allocation of resources for other programs.
The situation remains fluid as states across the Southeast continue to recover from Helene’s catastrophic impact, bracing for what could be another severe weather event in the near future.
