FEMA Isn't Running Out of Hurricane Relief Money Due to Migrant Aid

A steep increase in the number of "billion-dollar disasters" in 2024 made the U.S. Congress' initial $20.26 billion appropriation for FEMA's Disaster Relief Fund insufficient to make it through the hurricane season.

Separately from FEMA's Disaster Relief Fund, Congress allocated $640.9 million for services to noncitizen migrants in 2024. FEMA is the agency charged with distributing this money to nonfederal organizations that help localities with noncitizen migrant arrivals. Contrary to rumor, this does not deplete funds appropriated for disaster relief.

The appropriations process is such that executive branch agencies like FEMA are not authorized to reallocate funds to other programs without congressional approval.