US disaster response agency fires 4 for 'egregious' payments for migrants’ 'luxury hotel' stays
Employees accused of spending $59 million on high-end accommodations for migrants
Signage for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is seen outside of the agency’s headquarters in Washington, DC on October 9, 2024.
ISTANBUL
The US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) fired four employees for "egregious" payments to house migrants in luxury New York City hotels, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced Tuesday.
“Effective immediately, FEMA is terminating the employment of four individuals for circumventing leadership to unilaterally make egregious payments for luxury NYC hotels for migrants,” DHS said in a statement. Those fired include FEMA’s Chief Financial Officer, two program analysts and a grant specialist.
Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) claimed earlier that FEMA spent $59 million on luxury accommodations for migrants.
President Donald Trump criticized the agency on Truth Social, calling it “slow and totally ineffective” on Tuesday and accused it of “disobeying” by spending “tens of millions of dollars in Democrat areas.”
The terminations come as the US faces escalating natural disasters, including tornadoes, hurricanes and wildfires.
"DHS will not sit idly and allow deep state activists to undermine the will and safety of the American people,” DHS said.
FEMA is currently under review and investigation as part of efforts to address alleged mismanagement and inefficiency.
