Joco Today

U.S. Senators Roger Marshall and James Lankford have expressed concern over the Biden-Harris Administration's use of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) resources for addressing border-related issues. In a letter to President Joe Biden, the senators highlighted their apprehension about FEMA's diminished readiness for disaster relief due to its involvement in handling the border crisis.

The letter references comments made by Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas: "We are expecting another hurricane hitting—we do not have the funds, FEMA does not have the funds, to make it through the season." The senators pointed out that over $650 million has been spent on FEMA's border-related programs in fiscal year 2024 alone. Since President Biden took office, approximately $1.5 billion has been allocated for these programs.

The senators stated their concerns about FEMA's role being shifted from its primary mission of disaster relief to dealing with border issues under Vice President Harris as "border czar." They argued that this shift could compromise FEMA's ability to respond effectively to natural disasters like hurricanes.

"FEMA’s continued entanglement in DHS’s efforts to respond to the border crisis could impact its readiness and emergency response mission," they wrote. The senators emphasized that FEMA should focus on "helping people before, during, and after disasters," rather than addressing what they describe as "the impact of your Administration’s reckless border policies."

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