FEMA employees fired over payments for migrant hotels, Kristi Noem responds

• Four federal employees were fired by the Department of Homeland Security over payments to reimburse New York City for hotel costs for migrants. The workers are accused of circumventing leadership to make the transactions.
• Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said, “I have clawed back the full payment.”
• DHS officials did not give details on how the four fired workers had violated any policies.

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The Department of Homeland Security fired FEMA’s chief financial officer and three other workers Tuesday, Feb. 11 over payments made to New York City to house migrants. FEMA administers the Shelter and Services Program in partnership with Customs and Border Protection, providing aid to cities sheltering migrants.

Last year, Congress appropriated $650 million for the program, which is separate from disaster relief money. The cities generally ask for reimbursement after housing migrants in hotels.

DHS accused the workers of circumventing leadership and making payments to luxury hotels in New York City.

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How is the U.S. Homeland Security secretary responding?

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem weighed in Wednesday, Feb. 12, on her efforts to get the money back.

In a post to X, Noem said: “I have clawed back the full payment that FEMA deep state activists unilaterally gave to New York City migrant hotels. FEMA was funding the Roosevelt hotel that serves as a Tren de Aragua base of operations and was used to house Laken Riley’s killer. Mark my words – there will not be a single penny spent that goes against the interest and safety of the American people.”

I have clawed back the full payment that FEMA deep state activists unilaterally gave to NYC migrant hotels.

FEMA was funding the Roosevelt Hotel that serves as a Tren de Aragua base of operations and was used to house Laken Riley’s killer.

Mark my words: there will not be a…

— Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) February 12, 2025

Noem is referring to Georgia nursing student, Laken Riley, who was killed by an undocumented Venezuelan immigrant in 2024. 

He was convicted and sentenced to life without parole in November.

In January, President Donald Trump signed the Laken Riley Act into law. It mandates the federal detention of undocumented immigrants accused of theft, burglary, assaulting a law enforcement officer, and any crime causing death or serious bodily injury.

Did Elon Musk’s team discover FEMA spending?

On Monday, Feb. 10, Elon Musk posted to X that his Department of Government Efficiency discovered FEMA used money he said was intended for disaster relief, to house migrants, calling the payments “gross insubordination.”

The @DOGE team just discovered that FEMA sent $59M LAST WEEK to luxury hotels in New York City to house illegal migrants.

Sending this money violated the law and is in gross insubordination to the President’s executive order.

That money is meant for American disaster relief…

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 10, 2025

DHS officials did not give details on how the four fired workers had violated any policies.

The firings come as Trump’s administration puts pressure on FEMA, saying it should be disbanded and money should be given directly to states to handle disasters.