FEMA’s Emergency Food and Shelter Program Faces GOP Scrutiny

The logo of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is seen at its headquarters in Washington. Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images

House Republicans have opened a probe into the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) due to allegations that funds are being illegally used to facilitate illegal immigration.

The investigation is being spearheaded by House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.), Subcommittee on National Security, the Border, and Foreign Affairs Chairman Glenn Grothman (R-Wis.), and Rep. Jake LaTurner (R-Kan.).

In their press release, the lawmakers asserted that they are responding to reports that FEMA is allowing taxpayer funds to go to Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) who are using the money to offset expenses to “facilitate and incentivize illegal immigration to the United States.”

In a letter (pdf) sent to FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell, the Republicans requested documents related to FEMA’s plan to ensure that EFSP only reimburses authorized expenses.

“The Committee on Oversight and Accountability is conducting oversight of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) administration of the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP),” the lawmakers wrote.

“Based on recent reporting, EFSP funds are possibly being used by certain NGOs to offset expenses incurred abroad in efforts to facilitate and incentivize illegal immigration to the United States. If true, this is a gross misuse of federal taxpayer dollars.”

The lawmakers cited media reports asserting that the American Red Cross contributes to illegal immigration rather than reducing it. They also pointed to a DHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) report (pdf)that questions FEMA’s oversight of EFSP reimbursements in general and the American Red Cross efforts to facilitate migrants’ movements to the southwest border.

In nearly 60 percent of sampled funds appropriated under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, the OIG discovered that EFSP reimbursed NGOs and local recipient organizations for services to migrants without required supporting documentation, according to the House Republicans.

“President Biden and his Administration have issued a series of executive orders, memoranda, and other policies that eroded deterrence and undermined border security,” continued the lawmakers.

“These disastrous policies have led to unprecedented encounters of illegal border crossers at the southwest border and subsequent releases from custody in many cases. Taxpayer-funded NGOs then facilitate illegal border crossers’ release and onward travel throughout the country. These releases have overwhelmed American communities from Yuma [Arizona] and El Paso [Texas] to Martha’s Vineyard [Massachusetts] and New York City.”

Included in the document requests are all documents and communications from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) related to its involvement in assisting individuals intending to illegally cross the U.S.-Mexico border.

The request also seeks information on FEMA’s interactions with member organizations, reimbursements to NGOs, and communications with third parties regarding these activities.

FEMA did not immediately respond to The Epoch Times’s request for comment.