Republican Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas challenged NBC host Kristen Welker over the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) lackluster response to Hurricane Helene on “Meet the Press.”
During their discussion on Sunday, Cotton and Welker sparred over FEMA’s allocation of over $1 billion for a migrant assistance program over the past two fiscal years. Welker characterized this as “misinformation,” prompting Cotton to counter her claim.
Cotton pointed out that Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas recently stated that FEMA does not have enough funds to make it through the current storm season. He also noted that the Biden-Harris administration “has no problem finding money” for their own priorities, such as paying off student loans for graduate students and funding gender studies programs.
“When it’s trying to get helicopters to deliver food and water and cellular service and life-saving medicine into these mountain valleys, they somehow can’t seem to Cotton said.
Hurricane Helene, a Category 4 storm, devastated southern states on the East Coast including areas in western North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia. The storm caused over 200 deaths, and many people are still stranded after flash flooding damaged their homes and possessions.
Cotton also addressed the issue of FEMA funds being redirected to assist migrants, stating that it is true that the agency has been spending billions of dollars on this issue.
“It’s very common for the administration to come and ask for permission to move money between funds, especially to prepare for emergencies,” he explained.
Welker pressed Cotton on whether he thinks this is a time to put aside “falsehoods” such as the claim that FEMA funds are being redirected to migrants. In response, Cotton argued that the administration should prioritize using funds for natural disaster relief instead of other programs.
“They somehow find [the money] when they want to spend it on their priorities,” Cotton said.
Welker: "Do you think this is a time to falsehoods aside like FEMA funds being redirected to migrant?"
Sen. @TomCottonAR: "It is true that FEMA and DHS have been spending billions of dollars on migrants… This administration seems to have no problem finding money when they want… pic.twitter.com/SGgxZ7BcHZ
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) October 6, 2024
Despite Welker’s attempts to dismiss the issue, Cotton stood firm in his criticism of the Biden-Harris administration’s response to Hurricane Helene. The senator emphasized the urgent need for funding to provide aid to those affected by the storm and called on the administration to prioritize this over their own agenda.