WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representative Greg Stanton (D-AZ-04), Ranking Member of the Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Subcommittee that oversees FEMA in Congress, announced a formal investigation into reports that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) directed Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) personnel and resources to support U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during a critical hurricane season, potentially violating federal law enacted after Hurricane Katrina.
In August 2025, FEMA whistleblowers reported that roughly 100 human resources employees were reassigned to support ICE recruitment efforts to meet its goal of hiring 10,000 new agents. The move came just weeks after the July 4 flash floods in Texas that killed 120 people, and while FEMA was already operating with reduced staffing due to widespread departures related to hiring freezes, canceled contracts, and incentivized departures.
Whistleblowers reported that employees were threatened with termination if they refused reassignment. They also reported that additional federal employees, including from the Department of Defense, were solicited for ICE assignments routed through FEMA.
Following FEMA's failures during Hurricane Katrina, Congress passed the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act (PKEMRA), establishing critical safeguards to ensure FEMA can operate independently within DHS and remain focused on its core mission to support Americans during times of crisis. PKEMRA explicitly prohibits the DHS Secretary from taking any resources that reduce the emergency management agency's authorities, responsibilities, or functions.
In a series of letters, Stanton is demanding answers from DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin, FEMA Acting Administrator Karen Evans, and ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons by May 8, 2026. Additionally, in a letter directed to the DHS Inspector General, Stanton requests that the agency open an immediate investigation and requests the Government Accountability Office (GAO) assist in transmitting data on the impact of the reassignments to Congress.
“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,” Ranking Member Stanton states in the letter directed to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin.
Stanton's letter also requests detailed information on questions, including:
- Who within DHS issued the order directing FEMA to provide personnel for immigration enforcement missions?
- What methodology did DHS use to determine that FEMA’s Human Resources personnel should be assigned to assist ICE in meeting its goal of recruiting 10,000 new agents?
- Exactly what immigration enforcement missions are FEMA personnel currently supporting?
- Has any funding been transferred or reprogrammed from FEMA to ICE to support immigration enforcement activities?
Letter sent to DHS HERE.
Letter sent to ICE HERE.
Letter sent to FEMA HERE.
Letter sent to DHS Inspector General HERE.
Letter sent to Government Accountability Office HERE.
All tips can be directed to stanton.investigationsti@mail.house.gov.