House Republicans are exerting pressure on President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris’s administration to disclose comprehensive information about the allocation of resources, funding, and time directed toward Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) programs benefiting migrants. This scrutiny arises from concerns voiced by the House Homeland Security Committee under the leadership of Rep. Mark Green (R-TN). The committee is investigating allegations that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is giving priority to newly arrived migrants at the expense of American citizens who have suffered the repercussions of natural disasters, including Hurricane Helene.
In a formal letter directed to DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, the Republican majority on the committee is requesting all internal communications concerning FEMA initiatives aimed at assisting migrants, along with details regarding the agency’s Disaster Relief Fund (DRF). The DRF serves as the federal government’s main financial resource for disaster relief efforts, and the Republicans assert that throughout the Biden-Harris administration, Congress has persistently met or surpassed the President’s budget requests for disaster relief through both standard and supplemental appropriations.
During fiscal years (FY) 2023 and 2024, Congress approved approximately $61.2 billion for the DRF, which included both regular and additional appropriations. The committee has expressed its concern that the DHS and FEMA might have failed to adequately communicate their needs for extra disaster relief funding while concurrently requesting substantial investments for FEMA’s Shelter and Services Program (SSP). This program is designed to provide support for nonfederal entities offering shelters and services to migrants encountered by the DHS, including a number of individuals who are in the country illegally.
For the first time, in FY2023, Congress authorized the SSP to replace FEMA’s Emergency Food and Shelter Program-Humanitarian Relief (EFSP-H). Historically, FEMA had never received more than $150 million for migrant services; however, in FY2023 and FY2024, the agency allocated over $1.4 billion in grants to states and localities for migrant sheltering and services. In FY2024, FEMA awarded at least $300 million in SSP grants through a noncompetitive process, despite a report from the Department of Homeland Security’s Inspector General indicating that FEMA failed to exercise adequate oversight of how these funds were utilized under the EFSP-H program.
Critically, the Republicans have highlighted that the funding allocated for migrants should be a secondary priority compared to addressing the extensive damages caused to Americans by Hurricane Helene. The Republican committee members insist that Hurricane Helene resulted in damages totaling up to $47.5 billion across 16 states, thereby warranting that taxpayer contributions should primarily be utilized to assist American citizens who have sustained losses due to this disaster. They argue that the department’s distribution of limited resources should prioritize the needs of Americans before allocating funds to migrant assistance initiatives.
The ongoing investigation orchestrated by House Republicans serves as a significant platform for questioning the Biden administration’s welfare priorities amid contrasting needs for disaster relief and support for newly arrived migrants. The Republicans maintain that it is crucial for the administration to establish clarity in its resource allocation decisions, especially given the substantial sums disbursed for migrant programs relative to the funds available for American disaster victims. This call for transparency and accountability reflects broader concerns about the effectiveness and equity of FEMA’s operations under the current administration.
