The Biden-Harris administration is under fire for diverting over a billion dollars meant for disaster relief to fund services for illegal immigrants, leaving storm-ravaged communities in the Southeast struggling without federal aid as Hurricane Helene’s destruction continues to unfold.
The Biden-Harris administration is facing criticism after redirecting over a billion dollars, initially allocated for disaster relief, to services for illegal immigrants. According to FEMA’s website, the agency has allocated $364 million in fiscal year 2023 and an additional $650 million for fiscal year 2024 to its "Shelter and Services Program," which provides humanitarian aid to noncitizen migrants released from DHS custody. The program is coordinated with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to ensure a "safe, orderly, and humane" release process for migrants held in short-term facilities.
This allocation has sparked outrage among many Americans who believe the administration is prioritizing noncitizen migrants over citizens in dire need of disaster relief. The issue gained attention after an anonymous X (formerly Twitter) account highlighted the program in response to MSNBC pundit Michael Steele’s attempt to criticize former President Trump. Steele had argued that Trump’s decision to pull $271 million from DHS to detain migrants, including $155 million from FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund, hurt American disaster recovery efforts. However, Steele’s comparison backfired as critics pointed out that the Biden administration's diversion of resources was far more extensive.
At the core of the controversy is FEMA's shift in priorities under the Biden-Harris administration. FEMA’s website lists its top two goals as “instilling equity as a foundation of emergency management” and “leading the whole of community in climate resilience.” Disaster relief, once central to FEMA’s mission, is now ranked third on the agency’s list of priorities. For many Americans, particularly those affected by recent natural disasters, this change has real consequences.
In the southeastern U.S., where Hurricane Helene devastated several states, FEMA’s response has been notably absent. Small towns in Appalachia were particularly hard-hit, with hundreds still missing after catastrophic floods. Critics have drawn comparisons between Biden's handling of this disaster and President George W. Bush’s response to Hurricane Katrina, which crippled his administration. Federalist Senior Editor John Davidson warned that this could become Biden’s "Katrina moment," pointing to parallels in the public outrage over the slow federal response.
The administration’s focus on “equity” and “climate resilience” over direct emergency preparedness has left many residents questioning FEMA’s effectiveness. Some have even accused Vice President Kamala Harris of staging photo-ops to appear engaged in disaster relief efforts while real federal assistance is lacking. A recent image of Harris pretending to take notes during a disaster briefing, with her earbuds visibly unplugged from her phone, has gone viral, further inflaming tensions.
As the fallout from Hurricane Helene continues, the administration’s choices on resource allocation are coming under increasing scrutiny. With Vice President Harris now running for president, the political consequences of these decisions could play a significant role in shaping the 2024 election, particularly in battleground states still reeling from recent storms. The administration’s focus on equity and climate initiatives may resonate with some voters, but for those in storm-ravaged regions, the need for immediate disaster relief remains their top priority.
.png)