Whistleblowers within the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have raised serious concerns about the agency’s delayed response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, according to multiple sources.
The allegations of mismanagement come on the heels of FEMA facing heavy criticism after its chief, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, admitted that the agency lacks sufficient funds to handle the historic hurricane season.
Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., revealed in a letter to Mayorkas that FEMA has been slow in deploying first responders and service members to assist in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, leaving many sitting idle in hotels or awaiting deployment orders.
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The whistleblowers claimed that this delay has worsened the situation for thousands of Americans across the Southeast, who are still in urgent need of help following the storm.
🚨BREAKING: FEMA whistleblowers allege agency misappropriated funds amid Hurricane Helene disaster, withheld pre-disaster aid, and left first responders and service members waiting in hotels without deployment orders pic.twitter.com/HFSZS6CO1o
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) October 4, 2024
Gaetz outlined the situation in his letter, stating that “hundreds if not thousands” of first responders have been left without deployment orders, despite the critical need for disaster relief in the region.
He further criticized FEMA for misappropriating funds in the wake of the disaster, alleging that the agency has prioritized spending on migrants instead of focusing on helping American citizens affected by the hurricane.
“This news comes after FEMA has spent hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars on migrants due to Border Czar Kamala Harris’ open border instead of prioritizing funding for Americans impacted by disasters,” Gaetz wrote in a scathing letter to Mayorkas on Friday.
Gaetz’s office has been in contact with whistleblowers at various levels of emergency management, all pointing to the same issue of mismanagement and lack of proper response from FEMA.
The letter also highlights the growing scrutiny surrounding FEMA’s budget, particularly its allocation of funds. Over the past two years, FEMA has reportedly spent more than $1 billion in taxpayer dollars to support housing for illegal immigrants.
Now, as over 200 Americans have died in the wake of Hurricane Helene, and nearly 150,000 citizens have requested federal assistance, the agency’s handling of disaster relief funds has been called into question.
🚨 EXCLUSIVE🚨
Our government is refusing to rescue Americans trapped in North Carolina.
The Biden-Harris regime and North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper are REFUSING to deploy search and rescue teams to help Americans TRAPPED after Hurricane Helene.
These teams have been in the… pic.twitter.com/tXhdnWOG7y
— Breanna Morello (@BreannaMorello) October 2, 2024
“FEMA does not have the funds to make it through the season,” Mayorkas admitted earlier this week, despite Congress passing a $20 billion funding bill for the hurricane season just last week.
Mayorkas 3 months ago: FEMA is “tremendously prepared” for hurricane season
Mayorkas today: FEMA is out of money and can’t make it through hurricane season. “We do not have the funds”
Look at this. 3 months apart: pic.twitter.com/aX3o0NGihb
— Gregg Re (@gregg_re) October 4, 2024
Gaetz’s letter further alleges that service members deployed by the Department of Defense to North Carolina have been left waiting for FEMA’s response, exacerbating the emergency situation on the ground. He expressed frustration over reports that FEMA employees were “deployed, on the clock, awaiting orders in hotels,” while critical pre-disaster aid was withheld, worsening the situation for those affected by the storm.
In his letter, Gaetz demanded answers regarding FEMA’s budget and its allocation of resources.
He questioned how much of FEMA’s total budget for fiscal year 2024 has been spent on American citizens versus non-citizens and illegal immigrants.
“Of FEMA’s total budget for FY 2024, what portion of funds can be guaranteed to have been spent solely on American citizens, and what portion of funds was or may have been spent on noncitizens?” Gaetz asked.
He also demanded to know what portion of FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund has been allocated to non-disaster-relief programs, such as providing services to illegal immigrants or training FEMA employees.
Gaetz has requested that Mayorkas provide detailed answers by October 11.
The ongoing concerns over FEMA’s handling of the disaster response and its use of funds have added pressure on the Biden administration as Hurricane Helene recovery efforts continue.
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