This may be the most sane thing I’ve ever seen. There’s a controversy over hurricane relief flights – private citizens attempting to get supplies to storm-ravaged communities, and rescue trapped citizens, but say they’re not being allowed access by a government that’s failed to protect its citizens. Meanwhile the federal government says it’s not true. It does appear that there’s been clogged airspace, and so unauthorized flights were being throttled.
Elon Musk tweeted out his frustration, trying to get Starlink connectivity to disaster-affected areas. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg responds. And the two connect to solve the issue in real time.
Just received this text 20 mins ago.
The level of belligerent government incompetence is staggering!! pic.twitter.com/wWbBR7FfUo
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 4, 2024
Thanks for the call. Hopefully, we can resolve this soon.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 4, 2024
Thanks for helping simplify the FAA NOTAM. Support flights are now underway. Much appreciated.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 4, 2024
Glad we could address —thanks for engaging.
— Secretary Pete Buttigieg (@SecretaryPete) October 4, 2024
I find it fascinating that billionaires and world leaders are disproportionately engaged on Twitter. How does Bill Ackman have time for investing? Pioneering quant investor Cliff Asness is absolutely savage. Elon Musk is the modern day Victor Kiam, ‘I liked it so much I bought the company.’ Mark Cuban can’t get enough twitter. Meanwhile, watching the frontiers of tech play out in real time from @SamA, @PaulG, and @VitalikButerin is something to behold.
There were some who were frustrated by the Musk-Buttigieg interaction on twitter but I thought it was amazing.
Possibly the FEMA money went to the mobs of illegal aliens ?
@Alert would be correct. Per the official FEMA Website: The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) allocated nearly $364 million in the fiscal year 2023 and $650 million for the 2024 fiscal year to the “Shelter and Services Program” “to provide humanitarian services to noncitizen migrants following their release from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). In other words, the Biden-Harris administration took more than a billion tax dollars that had been allocated to the agency responsible for American disaster relief and used it to offer services for illegal immigrants.
Alert: False claims about FEMA money being diverted to illegal aliens is being pushed now by Trump. Ironically, Trump himself diverted FEMA money to his border wall and to building immigrant detention camps when he was prez.
No, the only people that misappropriated FEMA money was Trump.
He spent it on the southern border, to house migrants.
This was made clear by several legitimate news sources yesterday.
One must remember: with Trump, an accusation is always a confession.
Buttigieg is the most competent person in Washington.
@Andrew
It’s not false. Fema used money for illegals.
Well I heard FEMA money is being used to host BBQ’s for illegal immigrants to consume family pets…are you going to tell me that’s not true also? News flash, it was on the internet so it HAS to be true……Next thing you people will be denying is that that the 2020 election wasn’t stolen!! Or Jan 6th wasn’t the peaceful gathering that it was!! Geez you libs need to get smarter…..
Fact Check: Did Biden-Harris Migrant Spending Drain FEMA Hurricane Budget?
Published Oct 04, 2024 at 2:33 PM
By Billal Rahman AND Dan Gooding
Newsweek
Former President Donald Trump’s campaign doubled down Friday on claims that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) had run out of money to help those hit by Hurricane Helene because of the Biden administration’s spending on services for migrants.
The concerns about FEMA’s cash flow came after Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said on Wednesday that the agency would struggle for funding for the rest of the hurricane season.
Republicans, including Texas Governor Greg Abbott, then claimed that over $640 million had been spent by FEMA on migrants when it could have been used to plug the funding gap.
Stephen Miller, a Trump surrogate and the mastermind behind his immigration policy, said on Fox News that FEMA spending money on migrants is “the gravest betrayal this country has ever seen.” Fox News contributor Tammy Bruce also reiterated the claims in a social media post.
Further claims were made that FEMA was actively taking supplies and donations from volunteers and other organizations trying to help.
The Department of Homeland Security and FEMA have denied the claims.
The Claim
The idea that FEMA funding had run low because of spending on immigrants began on X, with the Trump campaign making the same claim to Newsweek Friday.
“FEMA has run out of money for the rest of hurricane season because Kamala Harris used the funds for free giveaways to illegal immigrants. This is inexcusable and yet another example of Kamala Harris putting Americans LAST!” Karoline Leavitt, Trump Campaign National Press Secretary, said in an emailed statement.
Newsweek has contacted the Harris campaign for comment in response to the allegations made by the Trump campaign.
The Facts
FEMA distributes money to migrants
The $650 million cited by Republicans refers to the Shelter and Services Program (SSP), which had a budget of that amount for Fiscal Year 2024, which ended on September 30.
SSP allocates funds to migrant support groups, nonprofits, and state and local governments to distribute to those in need of shelter, food or medical care.
While the funds are distributed by FEMA, they do not come from the agency’s budget.”
JFC – whatever FEMA used money for doesn’t impct what they can do for Hurrican Helene recovery. If they spent it their entire budget on Hurricane Beryl, they wouldn’t turn around and say “sorry…we spent it all in TX already so evryone in GA and NC is out of luck.” We are blessed beyond measure to live in a country with immense wealth and resources, and we can do great things when we put our minds to it and all work together.
Repulican brains occupy such a zero sum world – “if someone else benefits, I lose.” What a horrible way to live your life.
In the Washington Post from an article about the false narrative that is currently being spread……
In the middle of hurricane season in 2019, Kessler explains, Trump took $155 million from the FEMA disaster fund and redirected it to pay for detention space and temporary hearing locations for immigrants seeking asylum. “No, Biden didn’t take FEMA relief money to use on migrants,” the article title reads, “but Trump did….
Read it and weep….or deny as is so often done by the heavily partisan folks
@HF…..spot on
FEMA used money for “non-citizens”, not “illegals”. And they didn’t use all the money at their disposal. It’s possible for FEMA to do multiple things. The misinformation from the right is not even clever, I don’t why anyone falls for it.
@LAX Tom … If a non–citizen illegally crosses the border , then isn’t he an “illegal” by definition ?
All the liars doubling down on the lies doesn’t make it any truer, just doubles down on their hatred and desperation. Does nothing to help those in need of recovery.
@Alert If the federal government comes into contact with someone here illegally, those people generally get deported. They don’t get a check. It’s truly sad if you believe that they do.
Right wing propaganda sheep running wild with their internet and Murdoch crap. lol. People seriously believe crap they see online or on right wing stuff and don’t know how to verify. Bah
So let me get this straight: The FAA runs a completely incompetent operation, stonewalling people from trying to help disaster victims for over a week. Then a billionaire chimes in, and suddenly he finally decides to do something about it, and you want to give him credit for solving a problem that he and his fellow incompetent administration created?
I’m just imagining your commentary if this happened under a Trump administration, and I don’t think the tone would be remotely the same.
As usual, all you liberal idiots can do is blame President Trump for everything the brain dead Biden administration has done. The Biden/Harris puppet show has had over 3 1/2+ years to address every thing that they now deem was done wrong by President Trump – why didn’t they resolve these issues these past 3 1/2+ years?
@Mantis
Get your facts straight. This didn’t take a week. It only took a day, the same day Musk asked for help.
Another chump fool and complete horse’s ass!
toomanybooks — that’s a lie, this was resolved in a day. Naturally, Trumpsters will lie and make anti gay comments.
Wherever the money came from, it’s wrong to treat illegal migrants (or aliens, if you prefer) better than homeless veterans. FEMA has a record to be ashamed of, not proud of. Sec’y Mayorkas has done an egregiously poor job for the American taxpayers and should be grateful that the Democrats kept him from being impeached and convicted.
In many respects, Mr Trump is flawed, but at least he’s tried to stem the flood of illegal migrants.
If Sec’y Buttigieg did facilitate establishing communications, he deserves thanks. He’s not been an effective Sec’y of Transportation, so he deserves only a C+ at best.
Buttigieg is one of the most competent civil servants in my lifetime. Both sides in the port strike acknowledged in their press releases that he was the point person behind the agreement to end the strike. He has made the job of Secretary of Transportation a visible and productive office. I hope he continues to serve. (@toomanybooks, you are full of it.)
@ HF. Wow, a mind reader specializing in that of Conservative Republicans. So typical of those who are the arbiter of truth . . . in their own mind.