FEMA has been accused of violating federal legislation by utilizing funds earmarked for emergencies on migrants
Elon Musk has accused the US Federal Emergency Administration Company (FEMA) of unlawfully spending $59 million on luxurious lodge lodging for undocumented migrants. He referred to as for the funds to be recovered instantly, insisting that the cash ought to have been allotted for catastrophe reduction as a substitute.
Musk, now certainly one of US President Donald Trump’s key advisors and head of the newly created Division of Authorities Effectivity (DOGE), attacked FEMA on X on Monday for allegedly misusing thousands and thousands of {dollars} in taxpayer funds to accommodate unlawful migrants in high-end lodges in New York Metropolis.
“The DOGE staff simply found that FEMA despatched $59M LAST WEEK to luxurious lodges in New York Metropolis to accommodate unlawful migrants,” he wrote. “That cash is supposed for American catastrophe reduction and as a substitute is being spent on excessive finish lodges for illegals!”
Musk, who as the top of DOGE has taken the lead on searching for methods for the federal authorities to chop prices and scale back the workforce, referred to as the expenditure a “gross insubordination” defying a presidential govt order and stated the cash could be clawed again.
The billionaire supplied no proof to assist his declare, and it was unclear the place the $59 million determine got here from.
In the meantime, New York Metropolis officers acknowledged that the funds it obtained for migrant care had been appropriated by Congress and allotted to town by FEMA final 12 months.
Cameron Hamilton, the company’s appearing administrator, reposted Musk’s feedback and stated the funds had been suspended as of Sunday.
“I wish to thank the DOGE staff for making me conscious of this,” Hamilton posted. “Efficient yesterday these funds have all been suspended from FEMA. Personnel can be held accountable.”
FEMA Spokeswoman Liz Garcia instructed ABC Information town hasn’t been knowledgeable of any funding pause, including that reimbursements from the federal authorities had continued via final week. The matter can be addressed straight with federal officers, she stated.
Trump has been vocal about his dissatisfaction with FEMA, even suggesting scrapping it throughout a current journey to catastrophe areas in North Carolina and California. Upon assuming workplace in January, he signed an govt order establishing a evaluate council to judge the company, citing considerations over its response to current disasters.
Regardless of committing almost $30 billion in catastrophe support yearly for the previous three years, FEMA has left weak Individuals with out the assist they want in essential occasions, in accordance with Trump.
FEMA, established in 1979, is liable for coordinating the federal authorities’s response to pure and man-made disasters. The company has confronted criticism through the years for its dealing with of assorted emergencies, together with Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and Hurricane Maria in 2017.
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