Four FEMA employees have been terminated for bypassing proper channels and authorizing hotel payments for migrants in New York City, according to the Department of Homeland Security. This action follows recent revelations by Elon Musk on X (formerly Twitter) regarding FEMA's allocation of $59 million for luxury hotel accommodations for migrants in NYC. The dismissed employees include FEMA’s Chief Financial Officer, two program analysts, and a grant specialist. DHS stated that these actions undermine the safety and will of the American people and will not be tolerated. Musk has indicated that a demand will be made to recoup the funds, asserting they were intended for American disaster relief. This incident has reignited debate about FEMA's role in addressing the migrant crisis, especially in light of past criticisms regarding the agency's allocation of resources during natural disasters like Hurricane Helene. While House Speaker Mike Johnson clarified that emergency relief and immigration funds are separate within FEMA, he emphasized that the agency should not be involved in funding the border situation. FEMA's partnership with Customs and Border Control and its administration of the Shelter and Services Program, which provides assistance and housing to released migrants, remains a point of contention. New York City Hall confirmed receiving funds for housing and supporting migrants, allocated by the Biden administration. Of the $59.3 million, $19 million covered direct hotel costs, while the remaining amount funded other services like food and security. These funds, according to City Hall, were not part of a disaster relief grant. Representative Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) expressed support for the firings, calling them "long overdue" and criticizing the misappropriation of funds by the Biden administration and New York City, which he labeled a "sanctuary city." He applauded DHS's actions to halt the payments under President Trump's leadership. Lawler also condemned the incentivization of sanctuary cities and states to perpetuate these practices, calling for an end to such policies.

Migrants outside the Roosevelt Hotel in Midtown Manhattan. (Luiz C. Ribeiro/New York Daily News/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

ICE operation in the Bronx. (Matt McClain/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Migrants at Port Authority Bus Terminal. (Barry Williams/New York Daily News/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

President Trump, via Truth Social, suggested abolishing FEMA, citing its perceived ineffectiveness and suggesting that individual states should manage disaster relief. He criticized FEMA's handling of funds and its response in various situations, including its response to events in North Carolina.