Congressman Tim Moore Slams FEMA Corruption, Demands Accountability and Immediate Reform
Rep. Moore is a Member of DOGE Caucus and the Presidential FEMA Review Council
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Tim Moore (NC-14) took to the House floor calling for immediate reform after the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) attempted to funnel $59 million to luxury hotels in New York City to house illegal immigrants — despite clear opposition from the Trump Administration.
“Just yesterday, Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency uncovered that FEMA bureaucrats—against the Trump Administration’s wishes—tried to send a $59 million payment to luxury hotels for illegal immigrants in New York City. They had the gall to try to sneak this under our noses. Not anymore,” said Rep. Moore.
Under the Biden administration, FEMA spent over $1.4 billion on migrant housing, transportation, and services, in late 2022. Since President Trump took office, his administration has set out to reform FEMA to ensure American citizens are the priority, receiving timely resources following natural disasters.
During his first visit, President Trump named Congressman Tim Moore to the Presidential FEMA Review Council to assess and reform FEMA following their failures to aid American citizens after Hurricane Helene and other natural disasters. During the speech, Congressman Moore supported President Trump and DOGE’s mission to streamline FEMA and cut out waste and corruption in the federal government.
“Every single federal employee needs to hear this loud and clear: If you think you can keep wasting taxpayer dollars, if you think you can keep sneaking through payments for illegal immigrants, if you think you can ignore the suffering of the American people—your time is up,” Moore continued.
He also had a blunt message for Washington bureaucrats failing to do their jobs:
“Get out of your pajamas, show up to the office, and start doing your jobs. Or get DOGE’d.”
Remarks as prepared for delivery:
I rise today on behalf of my constituents who are angered and disgusted by what we’ve uncovered in Washington. And they have every right to be.
Just yesterday, Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency uncovered that FEMA bureaucrats — against the Trump Administration’s wishes — tried to send a $59 million payment to luxury hotels for illegal immigrants in New York City. They had the gall to try to sneak this under our noses. Not anymore.
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Since late 2022, FEMA has spent over $1.4 billion of our hard-earned tax dollars on migrant housing, transportation, and services. That’s $1.4 billion that could’ve been sent to disaster victims, for rebuilding communities, for helping Americans in crisis—squandered on Biden’s failed border policies.
Meanwhile, Hurricane Helene devastated my district and tore through communities across Western North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee. It took over a hundred lives, wiped entire towns off the map, and left thousands of American families homeless. They needed FEMA to step up and do their jobs. They needed help. And let me tell you Mr. Speaker, but for the volunteers, but for the non-profits, but for the churches, we’d be looking at more loss of life and more devastation.
Shortly after I was sworn in, we had a winter storm. Tell me why — during that winter storm — were illegal immigrants given luxury hotel rooms while my constituents—AMERICAN CITIZENS—were calling my office begging for FEMA to extend their hotel vouchers during a winter storm. They had nowhere to go home to. No heat. And Washington bureaucrats turned their backs on them.
Thank God for President Trump, Secretary Kristi Noem and DOGE because this is getting turned around fast.
But, Mr. Speaker, I want to show you something.
This is Western North Carolina. This is what Biden’s FEMA ignored. I took this picture two weekends ago in Chimney Rock and it’s a very, very small glimpse of things. These people still need help to rebuild their homes, their businesses, major bridges and roads. We are still in the thick of it. And who showed up for us?
President Trump did, he made it his very first trip of his second term and one of his administration’s biggest priorities. Secretary Noem did, she was here with a shovel and a wheelbarrow, literally. Secretary Duffy did, he’s moving mountains of red tape to get I-40 rebuilt. Tulsi Gabbard came right after the storm with her non-profit to bring everything from chainsaws to food. This is real leadership in action.
When it comes to the federal government, President Trump is rooting out corruption. He is making sure that the bureaucrats who betrayed the American people are held accountable. No more backdoor deals, no more slush funds for illegal immigrants, no more Washington elites ignoring the very people they are supposed to serve.
It took President Trump to step in and fix the mess. And let me tell you, he is fixing it fast. We are already seeing money flowing back to disaster relief where it belongs.
We are cutting through the miles of bureaucratic red tape that have delayed rebuilding efforts in North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee. We are making sure that no American is left behind again.
But, Mr. Speaker, this is just the beginning.
Every single federal employee needs to hear this loud and clear: If you think you can keep wasting taxpayer dollars, if you think you can keep sneaking through payments for illegal immigrants, if you think you can ignore the suffering of the American people — your time is up.
To many bureaucrats: get out of your pajamas, show up to the office, and start doing your jobs. Or get DOGE’d.
President Trump is leading. We are rebuilding. And we are making sure that the American people — not illegal immigrants, not political insiders, not corrupt bureaucrats — are put FIRST.
This fight isn’t over. Not by a long shot. But I promise you this: We will win it. And with that, Mr. Speaker, I yield back.