FEMA spends $59M on luxury hotels for illegal immigrants as disaster victims suffer
By isabelle // 2025-02-11
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  • FEMA sent $59 million to luxury NYC hotels to house illegal immigrants, sparking outrage as American disaster victims struggle.
  • Elon Musk’s DOGE exposed the misuse, calling it illegal and a violation of disaster relief priorities.
  • Western North Carolina hurricane survivors face delayed FEMA aid, relying on military support for recovery.
  • FEMA faces accusations of political bias and inefficiency, with calls for reform or dissolution growing louder.
  • Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem advocates for local control over disaster funds, criticizing FEMA’s bureaucracy.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) apparently sent $59 million last week to luxury hotels in New York City to house illegal immigrants as American citizens recovering from disasters like Hurricane Helene continue to struggle, with some still living in tents. The discovery, made by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has reignited criticism of FEMA’s mismanagement and political bias under the Biden administration.

Luxury for illegals, pennies for Americans

Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur and head of DOGE, took to X on Monday to expose the agency’s misuse of funds. “Sending this money violated the law and is in gross insubordination to the President’s executive order,” Musk wrote. “That money is meant for American disaster relief and instead is being spent on high end hotels for illegals!” The $59 million payment, reportedly sent to swanky hotels in New York City, has drawn sharp criticism, especially as communities in Western North Carolina still await adequate assistance following devastating hurricanes. Residents have faced prolonged delays in receiving FEMA aid, with some forced to rely on military support for basic recovery efforts. “So let me get this straight; places like North Carolina and Maui get a pittance because FEMA says they lack funds, so we have to send our Military there to do work that could be put into the local economies. Meanwhile, FEMA blows its budget on housing illegal immigrants?” one X user wrote in response to Musk’s report.

FEMA’s troubled track record

This latest scandal adds to a growing list of controversies surrounding FEMA’s operations. The agency has faced accusations of political bias, with reports suggesting that higher-ups instructed aid workers to avoid assisting homes of Trump supporters. Critics argue that FEMA’s priorities have been skewed, prioritizing political agendas over the needs of American citizens. The agency’s response to Hurricane Helene, which struck Western North Carolina in late 2024, has been particularly disastrous. Survivors of the storm have described FEMA’s efforts as slow and inadequate, with many still living in temporary shelters months after the disaster. President Trump, who visited the region earlier this year, slammed FEMA’s performance, calling it “not on the ball” and vowing to overhaul the agency. In response to the $59 million scandal, Musk announced that a “clawback demand will be made today to recoup those funds.” However, it remains unclear whether the hotels will comply with the request. Meanwhile, calls for FEMA’s reform— or even its dissolution — are growing louder. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has been vocal about the need for change. During a recent interview on CNN’s State of the Union, Noem stated, “I would say, yes, get rid of FEMA the way it exists today.” She emphasized the need for local officials to have more control over disaster relief funds, arguing that the current system is bogged down by bureaucracy and inefficiency.

A broken system in need of fixing

As FEMA faces mounting scrutiny, the $59 million scandal serves as a reminder of the agency’s failures. While illegal immigrants enjoy luxury accommodations on the taxpayers’ dime, American families recovering from disasters are left to fend for themselves. The question now is whether FEMA can be reformed or if it’s time to dismantle the agency altogether. For now, the DOGE team’s discovery has shed light on a system in desperate need of accountability. As Musk and others push for change, the American people are left wondering: when will their government prioritize them? Sources for this article include: ZeroHedge.com NYPost.com DailyMail.co.uk
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