The Department of Homeland Security fired four FEMA employees who the agency said undercut the directives of President Donald Trump to house illegal immigrants in “luxury” hotels in New York City.
The agency announced Tuesday that it had fired its chief financial officer, two program analysts, and a grant supervisor who it said facilitated the housing of illegal immigrants without approval or authorization.
“Effective immediately, FEMA is terminating the employment of four individuals for circumventing leadership to unilaterally make egregious payments for luxury NYC hotels for migrants,” the agency said in a statement. “Under President Trump and Secretary Noem’s leadership, DHS will not sit idly and allow deep state activists to undermine the will and safety of the American people.”
The news comes after Elon Musk said on Monday that his “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) team discovered that FEMA spent nearly $60 million to house illegal immigrants in exclusive NYC hotels.
“The [DOGE] team just discovered that FEMA sent $59M LAST WEEK to luxury hotels in New York City to house illegal migrants,” Musk posted on X early Monday morning. “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 and instead is being spent on high end hotels for illegals! A clawback demand will be made today to recoup those funds,” Musk added.
In response, acting FEMA Director Cameron Hamilton said the payments had been suspended, and the employees who authorized them would be disciplined.
Trump, who has issued an executive order to reevaluate the role of FEMA, called for the agency to be abolished on Tuesday.
“FEMA spent tens of millions of dollars in Democrat areas, disobeying orders, but left the people of North Carolina high and dry,” he posted on Truth Social. “It is now under review and investigation. THE BIDEN RUN FEMA HAS BEEN A DISASTER. FEMA SHOULD BE TERMINATED! IT HAS BEEN SLOW AND TOTALLY INEFFECTIVE. INDIVIDUAL STATES SHOULD HANDLE STORMS, ETC., AS THEY COME. BIG SAVINGS, FAR MORE EFFICIENT!!!”
