Four employees from the federal government were dismissed on Tuesday following a review of payments made to cover hotel expenses for migrants in New York City, according to officials from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
These individuals are alleged to have bypassed higher authorities when processing these transactions, which have been routinely implemented as part of a program designed to assist with costs associated with the increased influx of migrants. However, specific details concerning the policy violations committed by the four employees have not been disclosed.
On Monday, a representative for Donald Trump, Elon Musk, shared on social media that his team had uncovered the use of funds designated for disaster relief that were instead allocated for the housing of migrants in “luxury hotels.” Musk criticized the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which operates under Homeland Security, labeling the payments as “gross insubordination.”
Cameron Hamilton, the acting administrator of FEMA, later confirmed that these payments had been put on hold, promising that those responsible for the authorizations would face consequences.
The terminated staff included FEMA’s chief financial officer, two program analysts, and a grant specialist, as revealed in a statement from Homeland Security. The statement described the payments as “egregious,” emphasizing that the agency will not tolerate actions it views as undermining the interests and safety of Americans.
No additional information was provided in the statement, and requests for further comments from officials went unanswered. In response to queries about the situation, a spokesperson for New York City clarified that the funds utilized for migrant support were appropriated by Congress and distributed to the city via FEMA last year. The city has not utilized luxury hotel accommodations, said spokesperson Liz Garcia.
It is believed that the reimbursements originated from the Shelter and Services Program, which provides financial assistance to cities, towns, or organizations for expenses related to immigration. The funding comes from Congressional allocations specifically for Customs and Border Protection, which is also part of DHS, while FEMA oversees payment distributions.
This funding stream is distinct from FEMA’s primary disaster relief fund that supports communities and individuals affected by disasters. The Shelter and Services Program has emerged as a topic of contention among Republicans, who wrongly assert that it diverts essential funds from disaster relief efforts for those impacted by hurricanes and floods.
These dismissals occur amidst rising scrutiny from Trump’s Republican administration, which is advocating for FEMA’s dismantling and is promoting the idea of directing funds straight to states for disaster management.
