The Trump campaign issued a sharp rebuke of Vice President Kamala Harris on Thursday, attributing the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) funding shortfall to her alleged prioritization of spending on illegal immigrants over American citizens.
“FEMA has run out of money for the rest of hurricane season because Kamala Harris used the funds for free giveaways to illegal immigrants,” stated Karoline Leavitt, national press secretary for the Trump campaign. This statement underscores the campaign’s contention that Harris’s actions have placed American citizens at a disadvantage during a critical time.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas addressed the media on Wednesday, acknowledging the agency’s current predicament. “We are meeting the immediate needs with the money that we have. We are expecting another hurricane hitting,” he said, further emphasizing the urgency of the situation. “FEMA does not have the funds to make it through the season,” he added, highlighting the agency’s struggle to manage resources effectively in the wake of Hurricane Helene, which has wreaked havoc across several states, resulting in significant loss of life and property.
As FEMA grapples with the aftermath of the storm, the agency is working diligently with state officials to assess damage and provide essential supplies such as food, water, and generators. The recent hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30, has already proven to be particularly devastating, with Helene causing catastrophic flooding and claiming upwards of 160 lives.
In response to the funding crisis, Congress recently allocated $20 billion to FEMA’s disaster relief fund as part of a stopgap spending bill that will sustain the federal government through December 20. However, lawmakers are currently in their home states and districts, focusing on campaigning ahead of the November elections. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., remarked, “Congress just provided FEMA with the funds it needs to respond to the disaster and that lawmakers would ensure those resources are appropriately allocated.”
A bipartisan group of senators from affected states has urged their leadership to act swiftly, indicating that Congress may need to reconvene ahead of schedule in October to address the pressing needs of their constituents.
Complicating matters further, the Biden-Harris administration is under pressure to expedite the disbursement of funds earmarked for climate initiatives, fearing that a potential Trump victory could jeopardize their green agenda. “The Biden-Harris administration is trying to get this money out the door and get it fully obligated,” said Katie Harris of the BlueGreen Alliance, a coalition of union and environmental groups. “It’s quite the undertaking,” she added, acknowledging the challenges faced by the administration in navigating these competing priorities.
As the situation unfolds, the Trump campaign continues to spotlight what they perceive as failures in leadership, particularly from the Biden-Harris administration, during this critical time for American citizens.
How can anyone vote for Harris and Wahls is beyond my understanding!!! I could NEVER vote for them!
Certainly beyond any human understanding