Americans Should Be ‘Outraged’ by Mayorkas’ Comments on FEMA Funds: He’s a ‘Virus’

Even as states in the southeastern U.S. continue to reel from the devastating impact of Hurricane Helene, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas warned that FEMA “does not have the resources” to weather hurricane season. On “Fox & Friends First” Thursday, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody excoriated the secretary over the comments, citing the more than $1 billion spent on migrants.

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ASHLEY MOODY: Everyone should wake up this morning outraged by this comment. This didn’t just happen recently. And Florida has been warning about this since this administration took power. Mayorkas has invaded like a virus and infected what must be healthy, strong and essential to ensure the stability and security of Americans in times of disaster.

LAKE LURE, NORTH CAROLINA – SEPTEMBER 28: The Rocky Broad River flows into Lake Lure and floods the town with debris from Chimney Rock, North Carolina, after heavy rains from Hurricane Helene on September 28, 2024 in Lake Lure, North Carolina. About two meters of rubble piled up on the bridge from Lake Lure to Chimney Rock, blocking access. (Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images)

So you heard they took that FEMA emergency It was a food and shelter program that siphoned off hundreds of millions of dollars over time to essentially turn it into a program to resettle illegal immigrants. So when you see these states and cities across the country declaring states of emergency, even blue states, because of what this administration has done in encouraging more and more and developing programs to encourage more and more people to come here. The administration, Biden and Harris, must fund this at the expense of the American people. And right now all of these states in Florida, North Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia are suffering real natural disaster, not a disaster caused by Biden and Harris. They say we need more money. And of course they need more money because they have laundered it out of the congressionally established purpose of this fund. Laws be damned.

US Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas speaks at the daily press briefing at the White House on July 15, 2024 in Washington, DC The press conference focused on the assassination attempt on Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and the US Secret Service’s response. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

As relief efforts and disaster response teams work to address the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, Mayorkas warned about FEMA funding.

“We are meeting immediate needs with the money we have. We expect another hurricane. We don’t have the resources. FEMA does not have the resources to get through the season,” Mayorkas said Wednesday.

DHS on Thursday refuted the claims of Moody and other Republicans, saying that migrant funding was separate from disaster relief funding.

“These allegations are completely false. 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 related to FEMA’s disaster authorities or funding streams.”

Hurricane Helene made landfall last week as a Category 4 storm. It moved through Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee.

The death toll in the affected states has risen to over 190.

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Bailee Hill of Fox News contributed to this report.