The government's major disaster relief agencies reportedly spent millions on hotels last week on illegal immigrants, according to Elon Musk, who leads the Trump administration's efforts to cut government spending.
The Office of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by a technology billionaire, is implementing a federal fundraising wipeout and identifying areas within the government that can reduce “waste.” Musk has discovered his latest target at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the government's disaster relief unit that has recently raised concerns over the funding shortage reported during Hurricane Helene.
“The @Doge team discovered that FEMA sent $59 million last week to house illegal immigrants at a luxury hotel in New York City,” Musk claimed in an X post Monday morning.
Kristi Noem heads to Asheville amid intense criticism of FEMA's response under Biden
Musk claimed that FEMA sent millions to house immigrants in New York. (Getty Images)
During former President Biden's term, FEMA was reportedly lacking the funds needed to help Hurricane Helen victims, but was providing money that was used to support illegal immigrants. I faced repulsion.
Speaker Mike Johnson revealed that emergency relief funds are separate from the FEMA fund allocated to immigrants, but said the agency should not be involved in funding the border crisis.
FEMA partners with Customs Border Control (CBP) to manage money to the Shelter and Services Program (SSP), a government-funded program that provides support and housing for illegal immigrants released to the United States.
President Trump predicts Elon Musk will find “100 million people and hundreds of billions” in the next Doge directive
In a message Monday, Musk accused that “sending this money is against the law and is a terrible worship of the president's executive order,” which led to the agency's “effectiveness, priorities, and We were reviewed to improve our ability.
“The money is intended to help America with disaster relief,” Musk wrote.
A spokesperson for the New York City Hall confirmed to Fox that the city received funds “until last week.”
Of the $59.3 million, $19 million was direct hotel expenses, and the balance funded other services, such as food and security. According to NY City Hall, the funds were not part of the disaster relief grant.
The immigrants will be seen sleeping outside the Roosevelt Hotel in midtown Manhattan on July 31, 2023. (Luiz C. Ribeiro/New York Daily News/Tribune News Service)
The Department of Homeland Security told Fox News Digital that anyone who made the payment is “accountable.”
“As Director Noem said yesterday, we need to remove FEMA in the way we exist today. This is yet another terrible example,” DHS said in a statement. “Individuals who avoid leadership and make this unilateral payment will be fired and accountable.”
The report comes a day after Homeland Security Secretary Christie Noem, who oversees FEMA, proposed to remove FEMA from “how to exist today.”
After Hurricane Helen fatally sweeps south in the fall, Republican lawmakers said, “FEMA's continued entanglement in DHS' efforts to respond to the border crisis could affect its preparation and emergency response missions.” There's one,” he warned.
“FEMA proved to be a disaster,” President Donald Trump said. (Roberty Schmidt)
President Donald Trump also calls for FEMA to be reformed, suggesting that states are managing their own disaster funds during their first week of office.
“FEMA proved to be a disaster,” Trump said in January, speaking out about the damage caused by Hurricane Helen. “I would recommend that FEMA leave and pay directly. I'll pay the percentage to the state.”
Click here to get the Fox News app
Fox News Digital reached out to FEMA for comments.
Grace Taggart, Adam Shaw and Emma Colton of Fox News contributed to this report.
