WASHINGTON (AP) — Four federal employees were fired Tuesday over payments to reimburse New York City for hotel costs for migrants, Department of Homeland Security officials said.
The workers are accused of circumventing leadership to make the transactions, which have been standard for years through a program that helps with costs to care for a surge in migration. But officials did not give details on how the four had violated any policies.
On Monday, President Donald Trump’s aide Elon Musk posted on X that his team had discovered payments used to house migrants in “luxury hotels” with money intended for disaster relief. Musk blasted the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which is part of Homeland Security, and called the payments “gross insubordination.”
FEMA’s acting administrator, Cameron Hamilton, later said the payments were suspended and the employees who authorized them would be held accountable.
The terminated employees were FEMA’s chief financial officer, two program analysts and a grant specialist, a Homeland Security statement said.
The employees made “egregious payments for luxury NYC hotels for migrants,” the statement said. “DHS will not sit idly and allow deep state activists to undermine the will and safety of the American people.”
The statement gave no other details, and officials didn’t reply to emails seeking further comment.
Information from New York City indicated that money it has received to care for migrants was appropriated by Congress and allocated to the city last year by FEMA. The city has never paid luxury rates for hotels, spokeswoman Liz Garcia said.
The funds were likely sent via the Shelter and Services Program, which reimburses cities, towns or organizations for immigration-related expenses.
The money comes from Congress and is specifically for Customs and Border Protection, which also is part of Homeland Security. FEMA administers the payments.
The money is separate from the disaster relief fund, which is FEMA’s main funding stream to help people and governments affected by disasters.
The Shelter and Services Program has become a flashpoint for criticism by Republicans, who incorrectly claim it’s taking money from people hit by hurricanes or floods.
The firings come as Trump’s Republican administration ratchets up pressure on FEMA, suggesting it should be disbanded and money should be given directly to states to handle disasters.
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AP reporter Cedar Attanasio contributed from New York.
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