This week, Hurricane Helene struck the Southeastern United States, resulting in the deaths of at least 200 people and displacing millions. In response, experts from The Heritage Foundation have criticized the Biden-Harris administration for what they describe as mismanagement of federal emergency resources both before and after the disaster.
Lora Ries, Director of the Border Security and Immigration Center at The Heritage Foundation and former acting deputy chief of staff at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), commented on the situation: "The American people's suffering from this devastating hurricane is needlessly prolonged because of the Biden-Harris administration's mismanagement of federal emergency resources."
Ries further claimed that funds have been redirected to support initiatives that do not align with department missions. She stated, "This administration has diverted billions of dollars and resources to facilitate mass illegal migration to and throughout the U.S. and to fund woke programs that do not advance department missions."
Brian Cavanaugh, a visiting fellow at The Heritage Foundation's Border Security and Immigration Center and former official at DHS and FEMA, echoed these sentiments. He said, "The Biden-Harris administration has deliberately abandoned FEMA’s core mission of helping Americans before, during, and after disasters." Cavanaugh also criticized funding transfers from U.S. Customs and Border Protection to FEMA under DHS Secretary Mayorkas.
He highlighted concerns about resource allocation within FEMA: "The administration’s prioritization of DEI and Climate Task Forces within FEMA instead of emergency response officials has further exacerbated the situation."
Both Ries and Cavanaugh emphasized what they see as systemic failures in leadership within DHS that require immediate attention.
