Last updated on September 13th, 2018 at 07:57 am
A new document obtained by Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) reveals that Trump cut nearly $10 million from FEMA’s budget and gave it to ICE for more migrant detention centers.
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Sen. Merkley said on MSNBC‘s The Rachel Maddow Show:
It means that just as hurricane season is starting because it generally starts June 1st, the administration is working hard to find funds for additional detention camps, and of course, this is all part of the child separation policy. And that’s how this information came into my hands, because of my work on this issue of trying to stop the child separations. But in fact so $10 million comes out of FEMA when we’re facing a hurricane season, knowing what happened last year, and then look what we’ve had since, a hurricane just barely missed a tropical storm that almost became a hurricane hit Mississippi, and now we have this hurricane Florence bearing down on the Carolinas.
I find it extraordinary. And by the way, Rachel, the chart you put up is the same chart I have in my hand right here. It says that money came from response and recovery right on it. So I would dispute the statement that this has no bearing on addressing the challenges from hurricanes.
Trump Took Money From FEMA Response And Recovery To Build More Child Detention Centers
Trump’s malevolent incompetence isn’t limited to the government’s after disaster strikes. Trump is undermining the government’s ability to respond to future disasters. A category four hurricane is heading for the Carolinas. The last category four storm to hit the US was in Puerto Rico where an estimated 3,000 US citizens lost their lives.
The last category four storm to hit the Carolinas was Hurricane Hugo in 1989. Hugo killed dozens and did billions of dollars worth of damage.
Trump is actively undermining the government’s ability to help the American people in times of disaster.
Donald Trump is making America less safe, and for the sake of America, needs to be removed from office as soon as possible.
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Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association
