North Austin News

Congressman Michael McCaul of Texas, along with Chairman Mark Green and other Republican members of the House Committee on Homeland Security, has called for an explanation from Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas regarding the allocation of funds by the Biden-Harris administration. The lawmakers are questioning the administration's decision to allocate significant funds through FEMA's Emergency Food and Shelter Program-Humanitarian (EFSP-H) and the Shelter Services Program (SSP) for illegal immigrants.

The committee expressed concerns over FEMA's Disaster Relief Fund (DRF), which is intended for disaster relief activities. They highlighted that Congress has consistently met or exceeded budget requests for disaster relief but are worried about potential miscommunication regarding additional funding needs while large sums are being requested for programs assisting migrants.

“FEMA operates the Disaster Relief Fund (DRF), the federal government’s primary fund for disaster relief activities,” stated the lawmakers. “Throughout the Biden-Harris administration, Congress consistently met or exceeded, through supplemental appropriations, the President’s budget requests for disaster relief. ... The Committee, however, is troubled that the Department and FEMA may not have properly appraised Congress of its need for additional disaster relief funds while simultaneously requesting large sums of monies to fund FEMA’s Shelter and Services Program (SSP), a grant program to fund nonfederal entities for shelter and services provided to migrants encountered by the Department, including illegal aliens.”

Despite recent claims by Secretary Mayorkas that hurricane relief funds might be depleted before year-end, Congress allocated $20 billion in new DRF funds in late September. Over recent years, there has been a push from the current administration to reallocate billions towards changing FEMA's mission focus.

The EFSP-H was established several years ago to cover costs related to illegal immigrants. Under the Biden-Harris administration, it was renamed SSP with increased funding allocations. Last year's supplemental spending request included a proposal for $1.4 billion in new SSP funds, which faced opposition from House Republicans.