FEMA's Border Entanglement Raises Concerns About Emergency Preparedness, Senators Warn

FEMA's Entanglement with the Southern Border Raises Concerns

A group of Republican senators led by Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) has expressed concerns about the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) involvement in the southern border crisis. They argue that this "entanglement" may have limited FEMA's effectiveness in handling emergencies, particularly in light of recent hurricane devastation and the agency's request for supplemental funding.

The senators' letter, obtained by Fox News Digital, highlights concerns about the impact of the border crisis on FEMA's readiness. They cite remarks by DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, who warned that FEMA "does not have the funds to make it through the season" and urged Congress to consider supplemental funding.

While Mayorkas and FEMA have maintained they have enough funding for immediate needs, the senators point to approximately $650 million spent by FEMA on grants to resettle and aid migrants who have crossed the southern border. This funding comes from the Shelter and Services Program (SSP), which is congressionally appropriated and requires FEMA to use funding shifted over from Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

The White House and DHS have denied any connection between the SSP funding and the alleged shortfall in FEMA funding. They emphasize that the SSP is a separate, appropriated grant program authorized and funded by Congress, and is not associated with FEMA's disaster-related authorities or funding streams.

However, the senators argue that FEMA's involvement in the border crisis goes beyond the separation of funds. They point to the mobilization of FEMA to address a surge in unaccompanied minors across the southern border in March 2021, as well as the placement of a senior FEMA official as a coordinating official for the response to a possible surge at the border.

The senators also question the extent of FEMA's involvement in the border crisis, asking how many full-time employees have been transferred to border-related duties, how much FEMA money has been reprogrammed for the border mission, and if any assessment has been made on the impact of FEMA's engagement at the border.

This issue comes as the impact of the border crisis continues to be a major topic ahead of the November election. Republicans have accused the Biden administration of fueling the crisis with "open borders" policies, while the Biden administration has accused Republicans of blocking a bipartisan border security bill for political purposes.