Representative Greg Stanton (D-AZ) has announced an investigation into claims that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) diverted resources from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), potentially violating federal law.
In August 2025, whistleblowers alleged that approximately 100 human resources employees from FEMA were reassigned to support ICE recruitment efforts, despite FEMA already dealing with a Texas flash flood that saw 120 deaths on reduced staff.
These 100 employees were allegedly threatened with termination if they did not comply with the reassignment. Other federal employees were allegedly solicited for ICE assignments routed through FEMA.
These actions, if proven true, could violate the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act (PKEMRA), which mandates that the Secretary of Homeland Security cannot divert FEMA resources in a way that inhibits FEMA's ability to respond to crises.
"I am concerned that DHS's reported use of FEMA personnel to support immigration enforcement activities may violate these statutory protections and compromise FEMA's ability to fulfill its mission," Rep. Stanton wrote to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin in a letter.
As a result, in addition to opening the investigation, Rep. Stanton demanded answers on who within DHS made the demand for the reassignment of FEMA employees toward ICE recruitment, how the decision was made, what immigration enforcement operations FEMA is assisting in, and if any funding was reallocated from FEMA to ICE as well.
Rep. Stanton previously called for the resignation of former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem in January, arguing that her leadership has resulted in inadequate disaster responses nationwide. They point to problems in Texas, California, North Carolina, Hawaii, and several other states as evidence of systemic dysfunction.
"Under @Sec_Noem, @FEMA has repeatedly fallen short due to chaos, incompetence, and mismanagement," Stanton wrote on social media. "President Trump should fire her and put a qualified professional in charge."
