All articles tagged with #disaster funds
The Trump administration reversed its previous policy requiring U.S. states to certify they would not boycott Israeli companies to receive disaster relief funds, removing the language from its website and emphasizing that FEMA grants are governed by law, not political tests.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has rapidly built a migrant detention facility called 'Alligator Alcatraz' using emergency powers that bypass standard bidding processes, funneling millions to politically connected contractors. The project, funded by a large emergency fund, has raised concerns about transparency, cost, and the use of emergency declarations for political purposes, with critics arguing it diverts funds from essential public services.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is criticized for diverting nearly $20 million in disaster response funds to build the controversial Alligator Alcatraz migrant detention jail, with allegations of favoritism towards donors and political allies, and concerns over the treatment of detainees, including a 15-year-old boy, amid environmental and immigration protests.
FEMA officials express concern that former President Trump, if re-elected, might redirect disaster relief funds to support immigration and border security efforts, potentially limiting FEMA's ability to respond to natural disasters. This concern arises from Trump's previous diversion of FEMA funds for border facilities in 2019. FEMA's chief of staff, Michael Coen, warns of the potential demoralization of staff and mission creep, as FEMA has been tasked with non-disaster-related responsibilities, such as setting up COVID-19 vaccination clinics.
FEMA officials express concern that former President Trump, if re-elected, might redirect disaster relief funds to support immigration and border security efforts, potentially limiting FEMA's ability to respond to natural disasters. This concern arises from Trump's previous diversion of $155 million from FEMA's disaster fund for border facilities. FEMA's chief of staff, Michael Coen, warns of the potential demoralization of staff and mission creep, as FEMA has been tasked with non-disaster-related responsibilities in the past, such as setting up COVID-19 vaccination clinics.