Musk's department targets migrant spendings in NYC

The revelations of the Elon Muskled US Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, continued at a furious pace on Monday.

The latest splash was a claim that the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, recently paid $59 million to house migrants in New York City luxury hotels.

"Sending this money violated the law and is in gross insubordination to the President's executive order," Musk wrote on X.

US President Donald Trump issued various spending, hiring and regulatory freezes soon after he took office last month. Some of those executive orders have been challenged in federal court.

Cameron Hamilton, the acting head of FEMA, said on Monday that he is suspending payments sent to New York City to house migrants.

"I want to thank the @DOGE team for making me aware of this. Effective yesterday these payments have all been suspended from FEMA. Personnel will be held accountable," Hamilton posted on X.

New York City officials challenged Musk's claim, stating that the $59 million is part of planned FEMA funding to help cover migrant housing costs.

The city hasn't been notified of any pause in funding, said Elizabeth Garcia, deputy press secretary for Mayor Eric Adams. Garcia told the New York Daily News that while some migrants are being housed in hotels, the rooms do not fall under the "luxury" category.

Tricia McLaughlin, spokeswoman for the US Department of Homeland Security, or DHS — to which FEMA belongs — pointed to recent statements by DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.

"As Secretary Noem said yesterday, we must get rid of FEMA the way it exists today," McLaughlin told The Associated Press on Monday. "This is yet another egregious example."

In a trip to North Carolina last month to survey damage caused by Hurricane Helene in September, Trump said he was considering "getting rid of" FEMA and that he's creating a task force to conduct a "fullscale review" of it.

Agencies contributed to this story.

hengweili@chinadailyusa.com