The American public seems to be the last thing on the mind of Washington, D.C. bureaucrats. Even when a massive hurricane rolls through and k*lls over 200 people, they would rather spend money on foreigners.

We all should be able to agree that U.S. tax dollars should go to helping U.S. citizens. But for some, that seems like an impossible task.

And Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas sparked outrage on Wednesday when he told reporters that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) “does not have the funds” to support Americans through the remainder of this hurricane season. This admission comes after FEMA has spent more than $1.4 billion since late 2022 addressing the ongoing migrant crisis.

“We are meeting the immediate needs with the money that we have,” Mayorkas said during a press briefing aboard Air Force One, while on his way to tour the damage caused by Hurricane Helene in the Carolinas. He ominously added, “We are expecting another hurricane hitting. We do not have the funds. FEMA does not have the funds to make it through the season and what — what is imminent.”

Republicans wasted no time pointing out the mismanagement of FEMA funds, with critics noting that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) allocated $640.9 million this year in FEMA-administered funds to help state and local governments manage the surge of asylum seekers. Yet, Mayorkas’ office was quick to defend itself on Thursday, insisting those funds couldn’t be redirected for hurricane relief because Congress specifically earmarked them for the migrant crisis.

“This is easy. Mayorkas and FEMA — immediately stop spending money on illegal immigration resettlement and redirect those funds to areas hit by the hurricane. Put Americans first,” Texas Governor Greg Abbott posted on X, hammering home the point.

Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, chimed in with his agreement: “Yeah!”

Governor Abbott, one of Mayorkas’ most vocal critics, has consistently condemned the mass parole of asylum seekers into the U.S. following President Biden’s decision to scrap Trump’s “Remain in Mexico” policy. Abbott’s solution has been to bus migrants to Democrat-led cities like New York, forcing these already struggling jurisdictions to make budget cuts just to house the influx.

Over the past two years, FEMA-administered programs have committed more than $1.4 billion to non-federal entities caring for migrants. DHS initially allocated $780 million through FEMA’s Emergency Food and Shelter Program last year, a relief initiative not related to natural disasters. In late 2022, Congress authorized a new FEMA Shelter and Services Program specifically designed to handle the migrant crisis, funneling another $640.9 million this year through this fund alone.

Despite the uproar, DHS hit back, dismissing the criticisms as baseless. “These claims are completely false,” DHS said in a statement to Fox News, maintaining that FEMA has the resources to meet the immediate needs of those affected by Hurricane Helene. The agency reiterated that the funds for the migrant crisis are part of a separate, congressionally appropriated program.

Still, the question remains whether federal authorities even have the ability to reallocate migrant-focused funds for disaster relief, which has led to increased frustration.

The origins of the migrant aid funding trace back to a 1983 law aimed at reducing homelessness by establishing the Emergency Food and Shelter Program. This program targeted “civil jurisdictions with high unemployment, labor surplus areas, and pockets of poverty.” Congress later modified the program to include the specific needs of migrants encountered by DHS, as outlined in the December 2022 funding bill.

Meanwhile, Hurricane Helene’s devastation has left storm victims in desperate need. In the week since the hurricane struck, k*lling over 200 people and causing catastrophic flooding across the Southeast, a meager $4 million has gone directly to affected families, according to White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. These funds are part of a small $10 million FEMA allocation, allowing grants of just $750 for groceries.

President Biden, during a briefing on Hurricane Helene’s aftermath in North Carolina, acknowledged the need for substantial funding to address the disaster’s fallout. “It’s going to cost billions of dollars to deal with this storm and all the communities affected. And Congress has an obligation to ensure the states have the resources they need,” Biden said.

But for many Republicans, FEMA’s apparent shortfall is unacceptable. With Congress out of session until after Election Day, the lack of immediate action has drawn sharp criticism.

“The Biden-Harris administration took more than a billion tax dollars that had been allocated to FEMA for disaster relief and used it to house illegal aliens,” fumed Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio). “Now, they’ve abandoned American hurricane victims in North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, and Tennessee.”

Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.), whose district lies near the disaster zone, expressed similar outrage. “FEMA spending over a billion dollars on illegals while they leave Americans stranded and without help is treasonous. U.S. citizens are dying. Pray for our country folks.”

Rep. Eli Crane (R-Ariz.) added his voice to the chorus of frustration: “The Biden-Harris FEMA spent over $1 BILLION on funding illegal aliens. America LAST.”

Tim Murtaugh, an adviser to former President Donald Trump’s campaign, summed it up bluntly: “DHS says FEMA might not have enough cash to help people through hurricane season. But in 2 years of a new Biden-Harris program, they’ve spent $1 BILLION on housing and other services for migrants. Connect the dots, if you can.”

What are your thoughts on this issue? Is the Biden/Harris administration doing enough to help those impacted by the recent hurricane? Let us know in the comments below.