Whistleblowers have come forward with allegations that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) mismanaged funds and left first responders idle in hotels during the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, according to reports from multiple sources. The accusations were made to Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), who has since written a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas demanding further details on FEMA’s handling of disaster relief funds.

The whistleblowers allege that taxpayer money was misused, with FEMA deploying hundreds of service members and FEMA employees to North Carolina, who then waited in hotels without deployment orders. “FEMA has wasted taxpayer funds, misappropriated funds, and left other federal, state, and local responders without deployment orders on the ground,” Gaetz stated in his letter. He also claimed that FEMA had withheld pre-disaster aid, worsening the situation for residents affected by the hurricane.

Hurricane Helene, which devastated parts of the southeastern U.S., particularly in western North Carolina, has resulted in the deaths of over 200 people, with hundreds still missing. The storm's destruction has left entire towns flattened and state and federal authorities scrambling to provide aid. However, these whistleblower claims suggest that the federal response may have been inadequate and mismanaged.

In response, FEMA created a page on its website to counter what it called false claims about the agency’s actions. According to FEMA, its Disaster Relief Fund is specifically designated for recovery efforts, and funds were not reallocated to support immigration-related programs, as some critics, including Gaetz, have suggested. Mayorkas also commented recently that FEMA’s disaster funds were running low, which led to increased scrutiny about whether funds meant for disaster recovery were being diverted to other programs, particularly in support of the migrant crisis.

Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, has accused FEMA of obstructing relief efforts. Musk posted on X (formerly Twitter) that FEMA had delayed the delivery of Starlink satellite internet equipment to areas in need of connectivity. Musk shared messages from a SpaceX engineer that described how FEMA allegedly seized goods and blocked new shipments from being delivered. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg publicly responded, disputing Musk’s claims, asserting that no airspace was being shut down, and offering to investigate any problems Musk’s team encountered.

Gaetz’s letter raised additional questions, including whether FEMA had been spending disaster relief money on services for illegal migrants. He requested that Mayorkas clarify how much of FEMA's budget is allocated to non-disaster-related programs. These allegations have sparked controversy, especially as FEMA and other federal agencies face scrutiny for their handling of disaster recovery in the face of ongoing crises.

FEMA has yet to officially comment on Gaetz’s letter, and it remains to be seen how the agency will respond to these claims. Meanwhile, lawmakers may be called back into session to provide additional funding for FEMA as the hurricane season continues.

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