Name: Musk Says FEMA Spent $59 Million Last Week on Housing Illegal Immigrants in NYC Hotels
Uploaded: 2025-02-13T02:07:37.000Z
Description: The U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has found that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) spent $59 million last week on continuing to house illegal immigrants in luxury hotels in New York City, according to Elon Musk.

Arian Pasdar is an international correspondent for NTD News based in South America. His reporting focuses on immigration and key events in Latin America.

Arian Pasdar

NTD Plus

News

News with integrity, from the United States and around the world. Focused reports and analyses that shed light on major issues the world deserves to know. NTD Evening News airs daily at 6 p.m. ET.

NTD Evening News

US and Mexico Start 3-Day USMCA Trade Talks After US Imposed 50 Percent Tariff on Canada

David Lam is a national correspondent based in California and a part-time anchor for "NTD Tonight." Before joining NTD he was a financial analyst.

David Lam

66 Percent of California Adults Oppose 2035 Zero-Emission Car Mandate

Cary Dunst is the news anchor for NTD Evening News. He is also the co-host of NTD Good Morning.


Cary Dunst

‘It’s About Time’: Brownstone Institute President’s Reaction to Federal Government’s Pause on Medicaid Payments

Christina Corona is a California-based reporter for NTD News. She primarily covers California news, politics, and entertainment.  

Christina Corona

Novo Nordisk Sues Eli Lilly Over Drug Ads

Jack Bradley is a Washington correspondent for NTD News based in Washington, D.C. Jack previously anchored "NTD Newsroom" and worked as an assistant producer for the show. 

Jack Bradley

Capitol Hill Panel Warns of CCP Human Rights Abuses, AI, and Cyber Warfare

Jason Perry is an Army veteran and NTD's national security correspondent. Jason primarily covers border security, national defense, foreign wars, and veterans' issues.

Jason Perry

US, Israel Help Lebanon Secure Territory from Hezbollah

Zachary Stieber is a senior reporter for The Epoch Times based in Maryland. He covers U.S. and world news. Contact Zachary at zack.stieber@epochtimes.com

Zachary Stieber

Jason Blair is a national correspondent for NTD News based in California. 

Jason Blair

US News

Trump Admin Pausing $1 Billion in Medicaid Payments to 2 States

Sam Wang is a Washington correspondent for NTD News based in Washington, D.C. Sam covers politics on Capitol Hill, and U.S.-China relations. 

Sam Wang

Citizens React to Socialist Trend Within Democratic Party

Fiona Ji is a reporter based at NTD's global headquarters in New York City, where she covers local news.

Fiona Ji

New State Department Report Describes Cuban Regime's Subversion in US

Communist Cuba’s 'Decade Long Project to Sow Discord Within the US': Policy Analyst

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (July 21)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (July 20)

Chris Beers is an NTD News anchor and political correspondent based at the network's global headquarters in New York City. Chris co-anchors "NTD News Today" weekdays at 10:00 am ET.

Chris Beers

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (July 19)

Arleen Richards is NTD's legal correspondent based at the network's global headquarters in New York City, where she covers all major legal stories. Arleen holds a Doctor of Law (J.D.).


Arleen Richards

Full Episodes

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (July 18)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (July 17)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (July 16)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (July 15)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (July 14)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (July 13)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (July 12)

Tom Gantert is a reporter for The Epoch Times.

Tom Gantert

Melina Wisecup is NTD's congressional correspondent based in Washington, covering Capitol Hill and campaign politics.

Melina Wisecup

Politics

Executive Branch

Trump Uses Recent Speeches to Warn Americans of Resurging Communism

NTD+ is a streaming platform featuring exclusive programming, investigative news analysis, and award-winning documentaries.


NTD+

Shorts

Alleged Reflecting Pool Vandalism Caught on Video

Juliet Song is an international correspondent exclusively covering China news for NTD. She primarily contributes to NTD's "China in Focus," covering U.S.-China relations, the Chinese regime's human rights abuses, and domestic unrest inside China.

Juliet Song

Shows

Fast, compelling, first-hand news from China. China in Focus airs Monday–Friday at 9:30 p.m. ET.

China in Focus

2.8 Million People in China Evacuated Amid Typhoon Bavi

NTD Newsroom comprises teams of reporters, editors, and producers assigned to cover breaking news and other stories.


NTD Newsroom

News you can trust from the U.S. and around the world. Critical information and insight. We cover the stories that others don’t. NTD News Today airs Monday–Friday at 11 a.m. ET.

NTD News Today

Iran's Football Team Leaves Note of Friendship

Joseph Lord is a congressional reporter for The Epoch Times.


Joseph Lord

Congress

House Passes Legislation to Make Daylight Saving Time Permanent

The Associated Press is an American not-for-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. 

The Associated Press

Sen. Lindsey Graham Likely Died After Aorta Tear, Medical Examiner Says

Jack Phillips is a breaking news reporter with 15 years experience who started as a local New York City reporter. Having joined The Epoch Times' news team in 2009, Jack was born and raised near Modesto in California's Central Valley. 

Jack Phillips

Andrew Thomas is a reporter for NTD News primarily covering business, the economy, and technology. 

Andrew Thomas

World News

Middle East

UN Maritime Group to Rescue 11,000 Sailors Stranded in Middle East

Mary Man is a writer for NTD. She has traveled around the world covering China, international news, and arts and culture.

Mary Man

China News

China Floods: Thousands at Risk After Multiple Dams Collapse in Guangxi

NTD Films

NTD+ Movies

The Unrestricted War

Ryan Morgan is a reporter for The Epoch Times focusing on military and foreign affairs. He was previously a news writer for NTD. 


Ryan Morgan

Iran

US, Iran Launch New Strikes; Trump Warns Ceasefire May Collapse

The U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has found that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) spent $59 million last week on continuing to house illegal immigrants in luxury hotels in New York City, according to Elon Musk.

"Sending this money violated the law and is in gross insubordination to the President’s executive order,” Musk <a href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1888891512303263815" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">wrote</a> on social media platform X on Feb. 10. "That money is meant for American disaster relief and instead is being spent on high-end hotels for illegals!

"A clawback demand will be made today to recoup those funds.”

Acting FEMA Administrator <a href="https://x.com/FEMA_Cam" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Cameron Hamilton</a> replied to Musk’s post, saying: “I want to thank the @DOGE team for making me aware of this. Effective yesterday these payments have all been suspended from FEMA. Personnel will be held accountable.”

Hamilton went on to say that Congress should have never asked FEMA to do that type of work in bills passed in 2023 and 2024.

FEMA has been criticized for nearly a year over its disaster relief performance in western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene and reports of political bias within its ranks.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Jan. 24 after visiting the recovery areas of North Carolina. In the order, he called for the creation of a council to review FEMA.

"There are serious concerns of political bias in FEMA,” Trump stated <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/council-to-assess-the-federal-emergency-management-agency/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">in his order.</a> "Indeed, at least one former FEMA responder has stated that FEMA managers directed her to avoid homes of individuals supporting the campaign of Donald J. Trump for President.

"And it has lost mission focus, diverting limited staff and resources to support missions beyond its scope and authority, spending well over a billion dollars to welcome illegal aliens."

While speaking to reporters in North Carolina, the president also hinted at possibly getting rid of FEMA amid the reform attempts.

"Americans deserve an immediate, effective, and impartial response to and recovery from disasters,” he said in his order.

"FEMA therefore requires a full-scale review, by individuals highly experienced at effective disaster response and recovery, who shall recommend to the President improvements or structural changes to promote the national interest and enable national resilience.”

DOGE was created to review agency spending and identify potential cost reductions to boost government efficiency. Its investigations of federal spending have sparked resistance across the country, resulting in lawsuits from several attorneys general and labor unions seeking to prevent Musk and his team from accessing the Treasury and Labor departments.

However, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who oversees FEMA, said she welcomes DOGE’s audits of her agency’s data and supports a complete overhaul of emergency management.

“I would say, yes, get rid of FEMA the way it exists today. We still need the resources and the funds and the finances to go to people that have these types of disasters,” she said in a Feb. 9 interview on CNN’s “State of the Union.”

The news of FEMA’s continued funding of illegal immigrant housing has drawn comment from several lawmakers.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, whose state has already launched a lawsuit against FEMA for reports of political discrimination, <a href="https://x.com/RonDeSantis/status/1888953484747145591" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">shared Musk’s post</a>, saying this funding was "probably just scratching the surface of the mismanagement/corruption that has become so commonplace.”

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) <a href="https://x.com/RepMTG/status/1888912116775620841" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">commented</a>: "Breaking the law and sending American’s tax dollars to house illegals. People need to go to jail for this.”

FEMA did not reply to The Epoch Times' request for confirmation of the $59 million funding, and clarification as to why that funding went through and how the agency could get that money back.

Aldgra Fredly contributed to this report.

From <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/musk-says-fema-spent-59-million-on-housing-illegal-immigrants-in-nyc-hotels-5807322">The Epoch Times</a>

Latest

Videos

04_Top Stories

New York

Latest Clips

Immigration &amp; Border Security

Donald Trump

Born and raised in Tampa, Florida, T.J. Muscaro covers the Sunshine State, America's space industry, the theme park industry, and family-related issues.

T.J. Muscaro

State News

Latest and breaking news, documentaries, movies, and lifestyle content on NTD+.
 
Empower your knowledge and elevate your spirit with NTD+, your go-to destination for truthful news, insightful documentaries, and captivating lifestyle content that enriches your life.

Musk Says FEMA Spent $59 Million Last Week on Housing Illegal Immigrants in NYC Hotels

Paul Greaney is an NTD news anchor and producer. Since joining the company in 2018, he has anchored the station’s flagship Evening News broadcast, launched the NTD Business show, and produced documentary reports on pointed issues. 

The highlight of Paul’s time in the field was his coverage of the Hong Kong pro-democracy protests in 2019.

Paul Greaney

NTD News Today Full Broadcast (July 22)

Stefania Cox is an NTD News anchor and national correspondent based at the network's global headquarters in New York City. Stefania anchors "NTD Newsroom," and co-anchors "NTD News Today" weekdays at 10:00 am ET.

Stefania Cox

We present news that is truthful and based on facts, outside of the political fog. Instead of focusing on the negative things happening around us, our mission is to give our viewers a good morning with empathetic and uplifting stories. Our aim is to provide an antidote to negativity by shining a light on the best side of people. We speak to inspiring people who positively impact communities, pursue topics that represent our common human values, and will never miss an opportunity to bring you heartwarming stories.

NTD Good Morning

NTD Good Morning Full Broadcast (July 22)

NTD News Today Full Broadcast (July 21)

NTD Good Morning Full Broadcast (July 21)

NTD News Today Full Broadcast (July 20)

NTD Good Morning Full Broadcast (July 20)

Special Coverage

[LIVE July 23 at 11:30 AM ET] 2026 Rally and March to End the Persecution of Falun Dafa

NTD News Today Full Broadcast (July 17)

NTD Good Morning Full Broadcast (July 17)

Tiffany Meier is an anchor, China news investigative reporter, and producer for NTD News based at the network's global headquarters in New York City. Tiffany anchors NTD's flagship shows "NTD Evening News" and "China in Focus" and co-moderates NTD's special election coverage "The Nation Decides." She produced the award-winning NTD Original documentary "Hollywood Takeover: China's Control in the Film Industry."
