Research/Study Research/Study

Right-wing media are falsely claiming FEMA spent its resources on migrants instead of helping Hurricane Helene victims

Government officials have called the claim “completely false,” while reports have noted that the Republican-led House recently cut FEMA’s budget and Trump redirected disaster relief funding in 2019

Written by Chloe Simon & Gideon Taaffe

Published

In the wake of Hurricane Helene’s devastation, right-wing media are following Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in baselessly accusing the Federal Emergency Management Agency of taking funds intended for the victims of Helene and instead giving it to migrants. 

Conservative figures have also alleged that President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are “prioritizing the needs of noncitizens” and now “they have nothing left for Hurricane Helene victims.” 

In reality, FEMA provides money to migrants through the Shelter and Services Program, which is not linked to the agency’s disaster-related “funding streams” but is instead paid for via the Department of Homeland Security.

Select a section

  • FEMA’s budget includes billions of dollars for disaster relief and maintains separate funding for migrants with its Shelter and Services Program

    • At a campaign rally on October 3, Trump alleged that the Biden-Harris administration “stole the FEMA money just like they stole it from a bank so they could give it to their illegal immigrants who they want to have vote for them.” He also accused Harris of spending “all of her FEMA money—billions of dollars—on housing for illegal migrants.” [The Daily Beast, 10/3/24]
    • A Homeland Security spokesperson debunked the accusation that FEMA spent its money on migrants, saying, “These claims are completely false.” They continued, “The Shelter and Services Program (SSP) is a completely separate, appropriated grant program that was authorized and funded by Congress and is not associated in any way with FEMA's disaster-related authorities or funding streams.” On April 12, DHS released $640 million for the SSP to “help offset the costs of providing food, shelter and other supportive services after receiving an influx of migrants.” [Newsweek, 10/3/24; National Association of Counties, 4/18/24]
    • The Daily Beast noted, “The funds allocated to handle asylum seekers also constitute approximately 2 percent of FEMA’s annual budget, which is typically measured in the billions.” The agency’s website also fact-checked this “rumor,” saying: “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.” [The Daily Beast, 10/3/24; FEMA.gov, 10/3/24]
    • The Republican-led House, which currently controls FEMA’s budget and spending, has recently voted to cut funding from the agency. A week before the hurricane, Politico’s E&E News noted that “as the House and Senate’s top four leaders met last weekend to negotiate a deal to keep the government funded, they were forced to acquiesce to the demands of Congress’ most conservative fiscal hawks, whose votes were thought to be pivotal for passage. They quietly stripped the CR of almost all supplemental funding, including for FEMA, according to multiple House appropriators.” [The Daily Beast, 10/3/24; E&E News, 9/26/24]
    • In 2019, Trump used some of FEMA’s budget to respond to migrants at the border. Trump's administration redirected $271 million in disaster relief funding for migrant detention centers and to process asylum claims. [Rolling Stone, 10/3/24]

  • Right-wing media claimed that FEMA is “blowing” all of its money on “illegals” and accused Democrats of misappropriating funds towards migrants

    • Fox News’ Sean Hannity asked, “Why have money for Americans and emergency relief and FEMA when you can give it to your unvetted Harris-Biden illegals for sex change operations and housing and health care and education?” Later in the segment, Trump adviser Stephen Miller ranted, “Kamala Harris turned FEMA into an illegal alien resettlement agency.” [Fox News, Hannity, 10/3/24]
    • The Federalist published an article titled “Biden-Harris Admin Used FEMA Disaster Funding For Illegal Immigrants.” The piece claimed, “The Biden-Harris administration took more than a billion tax dollars that had been allocated to the agency responsible for American disaster relief and used it to offer services for illegal immigrants.” [The Federalist, 9/1/24]
    • After claiming that FEMA is spending over a billion dollars to house undocumented migrants, Fox News host Laura Ingraham said, “Democrats are prioritizing the needs of noncitizens, and now we learn many of them are violent, depraved criminals.” Ingraham then claimed that money was being used to help migrants who are “being released all over the United States.” [Fox News, The Ingraham Angle, 10/3/24]
    • Fox News host Jesse Watters claimed “FEMA is running low on funds because they’re blowing it all on illegals.” Watters said: “We are learning how half a billion dollars of FEMA money — your hard-earned taxpayer cash — has been helping out illegal immigrants. And here is the gut punch. Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas is warning that FEMA doesn't have enough funds to make it through hurricane season.” [Fox News, The Five, 10/3/24]
    • Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk posted Trump’s false claims that FEMA has “no money for North Carolina,” and commented: “He’s 100% right.” [Twitter/X, 10/3/24]
    • Former Trump attorney Sidney Powell -- who pushed baseless conspiracy theories about the 2020 election -- responded to FEMA’s attempt to dispel rumors about their hurricane response, saying, “You build facilities for illegal aliens and leave citizens to die.” Responding to the agency's “rumor control” on X (formerly Twitter), Powell posted: “No one believes you or anyone in the current government. You build facilities for illegal aliens and leave citizens to die. Your response to Helene is pathetic if not criminal.” [Twitter/X, 10/4/24; The New York Times, 12/8/20]
    • Right-wing social media personality Ian Miles Cheong falsely claimed, “FEMA says they can’t get money to NC hurricane victims because they spent all their funding on helping illegal immigrants.” [Twitter/X, 10/3/24]
    • Former Fox Business host Trish Regan commented on headlines about DHS funds being used for asylum-seekers, writing, “I guess we know why FEMA has no money left for Hurricane victims.” She added: “WHO runs a business — or budget — like THIS?! Hurricane season happens EVERY year.” [Twitter/X, 10/3/24]
    • Real America’s Voice host Ben Bergquam posted a video of a migrant center and wrote: “Remember FEMA spent all of their money on this so now Kamala can say they have nothing left for Hurricane Helene victims!” [Twitter/X, 10/4/24]