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<blockquote data-quote="DavidMcmillan" data-source="post: 4338215" data-attributes="member: 11749"><p><strong>Fact Check: Did Biden-Harris Migrant Spending Drain FEMA Hurricane Budget?</strong></p><p></p><p>Story by Dan Gooding</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><strong>Newsweek</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p> <strong></strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>Former President <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/topic/donald-trump" target="_blank">Donald Trump</a>'s campaign doubled down Friday on claims that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) had <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/fema-migrant-funding-hurricane-disaster-relief-1963336" target="_blank">run out of money to help</a> those hit by <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/before-after-images-show-helene-damage-north-carolina-1963053" target="_blank">Hurricane Helene</a> because of <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/border-communities-funding-migrant-shelter-healthcare-1945770" target="_blank">the Biden administration's spending on services for migrants</a>.</strong></p><p> <strong></strong></p><p><strong>The concerns about FEMA's cash flow came after Homeland Security Secretary <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/topic/alejandro-mayorkas" target="_blank">Alejandro Mayorkas</a> said on Wednesday that the agency would struggle for funding for the rest of the hurricane season.</strong></p><p> <strong></strong></p><p><strong><a href="https://www.newsweek.com/topic/kamala-harris" target="_blank">Kamala Harris</a> used the funds for free giveaways to illegal immigrants. This is inexcusable and yet another example of Kamala Harris putting Americans LAST!" Karoline Leavitt, Trump Campaign National Press Secretary, said in an emailed statement.</strong></p><p> <strong></strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p> <strong></strong></p><p><strong>The first wave of funding for 2024 came in April, with $259.13 million allocated. Another round was announced late August.</strong></p><p> <strong></strong></p><p><strong>Previous recipients of those funds include counties such as Pima County in Arizona, which received $21.8 million, as well as smaller church ministry organizations with grants around $10,000.</strong></p><p> <strong></strong></p><p><strong>States along the border and elsewhere have previously seen grants. In the last round, over 30 Texas organizations and local governments were given cash.</strong></p><p> <strong></strong></p><p> <strong></strong></p><p><strong>Mayorkas said there was enough money available for FEMA to meet the needs of<a href="https://www.newsweek.com/hurricane-helene-south-carolina-married-couple-hugging-killed-tree-1963128" target="_blank"> the communities impacted by Hurricane Helene</a>, as he suggested that another storm would lead to problems.</strong></p><p> <strong></strong></p><p><strong>"We are meeting the immediate needs with the money that we have," <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/press-briefings/2024/10/02/press-gaggle-by-press-secretary-karine-jean-pierre-and-secretary-of-homeland-security-alejandro-mayorkas-en-route-greenville-sc/" target="_blank">Mayorkas told reporters</a> on Air Force One. "We are expecting another hurricane hitting. We do not have the funds. FEMA does not have the funds to make it through the season and what is imminent."</strong></p><p> <strong></strong></p><p><strong>A spokesperson for DHS later told <em>Newsweek</em> that the claims made by the GOP were "completely false".</strong></p><p> <strong></strong></p><p><strong>FEMA was forced to set up a page to address rumors surrounding its response to Hurricane Helene, which has <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/helenes-horrifying-death-toll-soars-searches-missing-continue-1963393" target="_blank">killed at least 200 people</a> and devastated large swaths of rural Georgia and North Carolina.</strong></p><p> <strong></strong></p><p><strong>Addressing claims that <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/kamala-harris-750-fema-hurricane-helene-relief-reimbursement-1963602" target="_blank">FEMA does </a><a href="https://www.newsweek.com/kamala-harris-750-fema-hurricane-helene-relief-reimbursement-1963602" target="_blank">not have enough money</a> to help with the aftermath of the storm, the page reads: "FEMA has enough money right now for immediate response and recovery needs. If you were affected by Helene, do not hesitate to apply for disaster assistance, as there is a variety of help available for different needs."</strong></p><p> <strong></strong></p><p><strong>For the new financial year, which began Oct. 1, FEMA laid out a need for $33.1 billion. <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/topic/congress" target="_blank">Congress</a> then approved a temporary stopgap of $20 billion as it sought to stop a government shutdown before going into recess.</strong></p><p> <strong></strong></p><p><strong>That money does not meet the needs of the Disaster Relief Fund (DRF), which lawmakers reportedly removed additional funding for in an attempt to get the stopgap through.</strong></p><p> <strong></strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p> <strong></strong></p><p><strong>US Vice President Kamala Harris speaks to children as she hands out food at the Henry Brigham Community Center in Augusta, Georgia, on October 2, 2024. US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on Wednesday witnessed first-hand the catastrophic destruction wrought by Hurricane Helene, as several thousand responders joined all-out efforts to rescue residents and care for millions impacted by the storm. BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images© BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images</strong></p><p> <strong></strong></p><p><strong>The DRF mostly covers costs of previous emergencies, including flooding and wildfires. FEMA also has the option to ask for emergency funding from the White House to deal with the aftermath of disasters like the hurricane.</strong></p><p> <strong></strong></p><p><strong>"As FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell has said, she has the full authority to spend against the President's budget, but we're not out of hurricane season yet, so we need to keep a close eye on it," Jaclyn Rothenberg, a spokesperson for FEMA, told <em>Newsweek</em> Thursday afternoon. "We may need to go back into immediate needs funding and we will be watching it closely."</strong></p><p> <strong></strong></p><p><strong>Is FEMA confiscating donations, equipment?</strong></p><p> <strong></strong></p><p><strong>The agency also <a href="https://www.fema.gov/node/fema-confiscating-donations-survivors" target="_blank">set up another page</a>, seeking to make it clear that it was not confiscating or taking commodities, supplies or resources in any of the states affected by the storm.</strong></p><p> <strong></strong></p><p><strong>"FEMA is continuing to work with our federal family and state and local partners in the impacted areas to effectively bring in life-saving resources to the people and communities who need it most," Rothenberg said Friday afternoon.</strong></p><p> <strong></strong></p><p><strong>Addressing <a href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1842246865234128978" target="_blank">concerns raised by X owner Elon Musk</a>, who posted that his Starlink hardware was being blocked by FEMA, the agency said it had provided several terminals across North Carolina for crucial communication.</strong></p><p> <strong></strong></p><p><strong>"These units are supporting state and local municipalities, Urban Search and Rescue and disaster coordination," Rothenberg added. "Starlink units have been sent to multiple states in support of Hurricane Helene response efforts."</strong></p><p> <strong></strong></p><p><strong>The Biden administration had already disbursed over $10 million in "flexible and upfront" assistance to the states affected, FEMA said in a <a href="https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20241002/state-federal-response-efforts-continue-biden-harris-administration-provides" target="_blank">press release</a>.</strong></p><p> <strong></strong></p><p><strong>The federal relief agency had shipped over 8.8 million meals, more than 7.4 million liters of water, 150 generators, and more than 225,000 tarps to the storm zone, it said.</strong></p><p> <strong></strong></p><p><strong><a href="https://www.newsweek.com/hurricane-helene-update-more-million-americans-without-power-death-toll-1961066" target="_blank">Crews were also helping to restore power</a> and set up satellite internet links for those without service.</strong></p><p> <strong></strong></p><p><strong>Over 1,600 interactions with people and animals, including rescues and evacuations, had also taken place with federal assistance.</strong></p><p> <strong></strong></p><p><strong>President <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/topic/joe-biden" target="_blank">Joe Biden</a> also said his administration would cover 100 percent of the costs for the first 180 days in Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina.</strong></p><p> <strong></strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p> <strong></strong></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="DavidMcmillan, post: 4338215, member: 11749"] [B]Fact Check: Did Biden-Harris Migrant Spending Drain FEMA Hurricane Budget?[/B] Story by Dan Gooding [B]Newsweek Former President [URL='https://www.newsweek.com/topic/donald-trump']Donald Trump[/URL]'s campaign doubled down Friday on claims that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) had [URL='https://www.newsweek.com/fema-migrant-funding-hurricane-disaster-relief-1963336']run out of money to help[/URL] those hit by [URL='https://www.newsweek.com/before-after-images-show-helene-damage-north-carolina-1963053']Hurricane Helene[/URL] because of [URL='https://www.newsweek.com/border-communities-funding-migrant-shelter-healthcare-1945770']the Biden administration's spending on services for migrants[/URL]. The concerns about FEMA's cash flow came after Homeland Security Secretary [URL='https://www.newsweek.com/topic/alejandro-mayorkas']Alejandro Mayorkas[/URL] said on Wednesday that the agency would struggle for funding for the rest of the hurricane season. [URL='https://www.newsweek.com/topic/kamala-harris']Kamala Harris[/URL] used the funds for free giveaways to illegal immigrants. This is inexcusable and yet another example of Kamala Harris putting Americans LAST!" Karoline Leavitt, Trump Campaign National Press Secretary, said in an emailed statement. The first wave of funding for 2024 came in April, with $259.13 million allocated. Another round was announced late August. Previous recipients of those funds include counties such as Pima County in Arizona, which received $21.8 million, as well as smaller church ministry organizations with grants around $10,000. States along the border and elsewhere have previously seen grants. In the last round, over 30 Texas organizations and local governments were given cash. Mayorkas said there was enough money available for FEMA to meet the needs of[URL='https://www.newsweek.com/hurricane-helene-south-carolina-married-couple-hugging-killed-tree-1963128'] the communities impacted by Hurricane Helene[/URL], as he suggested that another storm would lead to problems. "We are meeting the immediate needs with the money that we have," [URL='https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/press-briefings/2024/10/02/press-gaggle-by-press-secretary-karine-jean-pierre-and-secretary-of-homeland-security-alejandro-mayorkas-en-route-greenville-sc/']Mayorkas told reporters[/URL] on Air Force One. "We are expecting another hurricane hitting. We do not have the funds. FEMA does not have the funds to make it through the season and what is imminent." A spokesperson for DHS later told [I]Newsweek[/I] that the claims made by the GOP were "completely false". FEMA was forced to set up a page to address rumors surrounding its response to Hurricane Helene, which has [URL='https://www.newsweek.com/helenes-horrifying-death-toll-soars-searches-missing-continue-1963393']killed at least 200 people[/URL] and devastated large swaths of rural Georgia and North Carolina. Addressing claims that [URL='https://www.newsweek.com/kamala-harris-750-fema-hurricane-helene-relief-reimbursement-1963602']FEMA does [/URL][URL='https://www.newsweek.com/kamala-harris-750-fema-hurricane-helene-relief-reimbursement-1963602']not have enough money[/URL] to help with the aftermath of the storm, the page reads: "FEMA has enough money right now for immediate response and recovery needs. If you were affected by Helene, do not hesitate to apply for disaster assistance, as there is a variety of help available for different needs." For the new financial year, which began Oct. 1, FEMA laid out a need for $33.1 billion. [URL='https://www.newsweek.com/topic/congress']Congress[/URL] then approved a temporary stopgap of $20 billion as it sought to stop a government shutdown before going into recess. That money does not meet the needs of the Disaster Relief Fund (DRF), which lawmakers reportedly removed additional funding for in an attempt to get the stopgap through. US Vice President Kamala Harris speaks to children as she hands out food at the Henry Brigham Community Center in Augusta, Georgia, on October 2, 2024. US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on Wednesday witnessed first-hand the catastrophic destruction wrought by Hurricane Helene, as several thousand responders joined all-out efforts to rescue residents and care for millions impacted by the storm. BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images© BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images The DRF mostly covers costs of previous emergencies, including flooding and wildfires. FEMA also has the option to ask for emergency funding from the White House to deal with the aftermath of disasters like the hurricane. "As FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell has said, she has the full authority to spend against the President's budget, but we're not out of hurricane season yet, so we need to keep a close eye on it," Jaclyn Rothenberg, a spokesperson for FEMA, told [I]Newsweek[/I] Thursday afternoon. "We may need to go back into immediate needs funding and we will be watching it closely." Is FEMA confiscating donations, equipment? The agency also [URL='https://www.fema.gov/node/fema-confiscating-donations-survivors']set up another page[/URL], seeking to make it clear that it was not confiscating or taking commodities, supplies or resources in any of the states affected by the storm. "FEMA is continuing to work with our federal family and state and local partners in the impacted areas to effectively bring in life-saving resources to the people and communities who need it most," Rothenberg said Friday afternoon. Addressing [URL='https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1842246865234128978']concerns raised by X owner Elon Musk[/URL], who posted that his Starlink hardware was being blocked by FEMA, the agency said it had provided several terminals across North Carolina for crucial communication. "These units are supporting state and local municipalities, Urban Search and Rescue and disaster coordination," Rothenberg added. "Starlink units have been sent to multiple states in support of Hurricane Helene response efforts." The Biden administration had already disbursed over $10 million in "flexible and upfront" assistance to the states affected, FEMA said in a [URL='https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20241002/state-federal-response-efforts-continue-biden-harris-administration-provides']press release[/URL]. The federal relief agency had shipped over 8.8 million meals, more than 7.4 million liters of water, 150 generators, and more than 225,000 tarps to the storm zone, it said. [URL='https://www.newsweek.com/hurricane-helene-update-more-million-americans-without-power-death-toll-1961066']Crews were also helping to restore power[/URL] and set up satellite internet links for those without service. Over 1,600 interactions with people and animals, including rescues and evacuations, had also taken place with federal assistance. President [URL='https://www.newsweek.com/topic/joe-biden']Joe Biden[/URL] also said his administration would cover 100 percent of the costs for the first 180 days in Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina. [/B] [/QUOTE]
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