President Joe Biden’s administration continued to defend the federal response to Hurricane Helene after former President Donald Trump made unfounded claims about storm recovery during the presidential campaign. FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell stated that FEMA has all the necessary resources to respond to the hurricane that affected several states, including key swing states like North Carolina and Georgia. Criswell refuted Trump’s claims that FEMA funds were being diverted to help undocumented immigrants and that Republican areas were being neglected, calling these assertions false and harmful. Despite criticism from Trump and some Republicans, state and local officials have supported FEMA’s response efforts.
FEMA does have a separate housing program for noncitizen migrants but this funding is separate from disaster relief funds. While Congress recently approved $20 billion in disaster relief funds, President Biden indicated that more funding is needed for longer-term recovery efforts. Critics argue that FEMA should not be spending money on resettling illegal immigrants, while administration officials stress that they have enough funds for immediate needs but may run out if additional storms occur.
Trump has continued to criticize FEMA’s response at recent rallies, claiming that victims of the hurricane are only receiving $750 in assistance while foreign countries receive millions of dollars. The $750 assistance provided by FEMA covers essential needs like food, water, and medication in the immediate aftermath of a disaster. Republican National Committee Co-Chair Lara Trump defended the criticism of FEMA’s response but acknowledged positive feedback from local officials. Overall, the federal government is working to ensure that disaster relief funds are allocated effectively to support those affected by Hurricane Helene.
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