As the southeastern United States reels from the devastation of two major hurricanes, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas delivered a concerning announcement: FEMA is running out of funds. This revelation has sparked widespread questions about where the agency’s resources have gone, particularly amid growing scrutiny of recent government spending.
One area drawing attention is FEMA’s $12 million grant program, launched in May 2023, aimed at increasing “equity” in disaster response. According to agency documents, this initiative was designed to support communities with large populations of racial and sexual minorities, in line with the Biden administration’s broader focus on underserved groups. The 2023 Regional Catastrophic Preparedness Grant Program sought to improve disaster preparedness for populations historically marginalized in economic, social, and civic life, such as African Americans, Hispanics, LGBTQIA individuals, Middle Easterners, and those in rural areas.
A leaked Zoom call featuring Tyler Atkins, a FEMA emergency management specialist, highlighted the program’s urgency, writes The Daily Caller.
“LGBTQIA people, and those who are already disadvantaged, are struggling,” Atkins said. “When you add a disaster on top of that, it just compounds the challenges.” His remarks underscored FEMA’s evolving strategy, moving from a traditional focus on assisting the greatest number of people to a model that prioritizes “disaster equity.”
FEMA Disaster Preparedness Meeting:
“We should focus our efforts on LGBTQIA people… they struggled before the storm”
“FEMA relief is no longer about getting the greatest good for the greatest amount of people…. It’s about disaster equity.” pic.twitter.com/IqXeKI8OTT
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) October 7, 2024
This shift in approach was further emphasized during a FEMA disaster preparedness meeting, where officials discussed the importance of focusing relief efforts on LGBTQIA communities, among other marginalized groups. A viral clip from the meeting, widely shared on social media, quoted officials saying that FEMA relief is “no longer about getting the greatest good for the greatest amount of people” but rather about advancing disaster equity.
The rationale behind this equity-focused initiative stems from research showing that minority groups disproportionately live in areas vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, inadequate infrastructure, and limited resources. FEMA has therefore instructed grant applicants to use the Biden administration’s Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST) to identify underserved communities eligible for federal investment.
“Equity” over equality has been a driving force behind Kamala Harris’ entire career.
There’s a big difference between equality and equity. pic.twitter.com/n3XfQyjLNe
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) November 1, 2020
The approach has raised concerns among those affected by recent hurricanes, especially in regions like western North Carolina and northern Georgia. These areas were severely impacted by Hurricane Helene, which resulted in 227 deaths and $35 billion in damages because many of the devastated communities are ineligible for funding under the equity-driven criteria. According to the Associated Press, FEMA has allocated $27 million in individual assistance to those affected by Hurricane Helene, but this falls far short of the need.
FEMA’s financial pressure is not limited to hurricane relief. The agency has also spent nearly $1 billion on migrant assistance programs over the 2023 and 2024 fiscal years, further depleting its budget. As Florida braces for the impact of Hurricane Milton, a Category 5 storm expected to hit the Gulf Coast, the state is still grappling with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
The liberal lefts DEI is destroying the United States. Electing Harris will ensure the end of America as we know it . The country we grew up in will be lost forever. Our kids and grandkids will never experience the country we did. What a shame. Vote Trump .