The Fed says there is no money left for hurricanes after FEMA spent $640 million on migrants

WASHINGTON – Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas sparked outrage Wednesday when he told reporters that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) “does not have the resources” to see Americans through the rest of this Atlantic hurricane season – after the agency said more had spent $1.4 billion since fall 2022 to address the refugee crisis.

“We are meeting the immediate needs with the money we have,” Mayorkas said during a press briefing on Air Force One en route to Hurricane Helene damage in South and North Carolina.

“We expect another hurricane,” he added. “We don’t have the resources. FEMA doesn’t have the resources to get through the season and what – what’s imminent.”

Critics pointed out that the Department of Homeland Security allocated $640.9 million in FEMA-administered funds this year to help state and local governments deal with the influx of asylum seekers – although Mayorka's office pushed back late Thursday insisted that these funds could not be used for hurricane relief because Congress authorized them for the refugee crisis.

“That's easy. Mayorkas and FEMA – immediately stop spending money on relocating illegal immigrants and redirect those funds to hurricane-affected areas. Put Americans first,” Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott tweeted Wednesday.

“Yes!” added Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of X and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX.

Abbott is a key critic of Mayorkas' mass parole of asylum seekers into the U.S. after President Biden rejected former President Donald Trump's “Remain in Mexico” policy – with the governor busing migrants to Democratic-run jurisdictions such as New York City , which strained the local budget cuts to accommodate them.

Over two years, more than $1.4 billion was allocated from FEMA-administered programs to support non-federal agencies caring for migrants.

DHS allocated $780 million to the refugee crisis last year through the FEMA Emergency Food and Shelter Program, which funds relief services not related to natural disasters, and the FEMA Shelter and Services Program, the end Approved by Congress in 2022 to respond to the migrant crisis.

The $640.9 million spent this year comes entirely from the Shelter and Services Program.

“These allegations are completely false,” the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement to Fox News on Thursday following outcry from Republicans.

“As Secretary Mayorkas said, FEMA has the resources necessary to meet the immediate needs related to Hurricane Helene and other disasters. The Shelter and Services Program (SSP) is an entirely separate, dedicated grant program authorized and funded by Congress and is in no way affiliated with FEMA’s disaster authorities or funding streams.”

A relatively paltry $4 million has been paid directly to families and individuals in the week since Hurricane Helene devastated the Southeast, killing at least 202 people and causing severe flooding damage from Florida to North Carolina, White House press secretary Karine Jean- Pierre, on Thursday.

These funds come from a $10 million FEMA allocation that will provide $750 food grants to storm victims.

Biden said Wednesday during a briefing on Hurricane Helene in North Carolina: “Responding to this storm and all affected communities will cost billions of dollars.” And Congress has a duty to ensure states have the resources they need .”

The lack of available FEMA funding sparked outrage among Republicans in Congress, who don't have to resume meetings until after Election Day.

“The Biden-Harris administration took more than a billion in taxpayer dollars allocated to FEMA for disaster relief and used it to house illegal immigrants,” said Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio). “Now they have failed American hurricane victims in North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina and Tennessee.”

Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.), whose district borders the disaster area, tweeted: “FEMA spending over a billion dollars on illegals while leaving Americans stranded and without help is treason.” U.S. citizens die. Pray for our countrymen.”

Rep. Eli Crane (R-Arizona) added: “‘Biden-Harris-FEMA has spent over $1 billion funding illegal immigrants. America LAST.”

“Connect the dots if you can,” wrote Tim Murtaugh, an adviser to former President Donald Trump’s campaign. “DHS says FEMA may not have enough money to help people through hurricane season. But in the two years of a new Biden-Harris program they have spent $1 BILLION on housing and other services for migrants.”

FEMA did not immediately respond to The Post's request for comment.