Republicans on the House Homeland Security Committee are looking into how the Department of Homeland Security has been spending its funds. This investigation comes as there is controversy surrounding the money being used for illegal immigrants and disaster relief efforts.
Amid hurricanes hitting North Carolina and Florida, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas mentioned that FEMA does not have stable funding for the hurricane season. Although there is enough money for immediate needs, the administration is asking Congress to pass a supplemental spending bill to ensure there is enough funding for the long-term recovery efforts.
Conservatives have been critical of the grants given by FEMA to non-profits and local communities that are housing illegal immigrants during the border crisis. The funding, which totals $650 million, has been moved from Customs and Border Protection. DHS has clarified that this funding is separate from the Disaster Relief Fund and does not impact disaster relief efforts.
While Republicans acknowledge that the funding for migrants and disaster relief are separate, they are concerned that Congress has not been fully informed about the need for additional disaster relief funds. They question the Department’s priorities in using taxpayer money to fund programs for migrants when there are communities in need of federal assistance after disasters like Hurricane Helene.
The committee is requesting all documents related to funding for programs supporting migrants, as well as funding for disaster relief efforts. This scrutiny from Republicans is not new, as GOP senators have also raised concerns about how the administration’s focus on the border crisis could affect emergency response readiness.
Overall, the investigation by the House Homeland Security Committee aims to ensure that taxpayer funds are being used appropriately and effectively to help Americans in times of need. The ongoing debate highlights the challenges in balancing resources for different priorities within the Department of Homeland Security.