Trump backs Congress returning from recess to pass hurricane relief

Former President Trump on Monday said he would be in favor of Congress returning early from recess to pass additional aid following Hurricane Helene.

“I would be in favor of it, yeah. This is a very unusual situation, and I would be in favor of it,” Trump told reporters in Asheville, N.C., where he toured storm damage.

Trump used the response to repeat debunked claims that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) had run out of money for disaster relief because it was spending funds on aid for migrants.

“You know, in theory they’re supposed to have it, but they spent a lot of money on bringing illegal migrants, people that came into our country illegally, and taking them in and all of the money they spent,” Trump said, calling FEMA’s response “a disgrace.”

The White House and local officials in affected areas have for weeks pushed back on similar claims from Trump and his allies, making clear that FEMA’s disaster relief fund is specifically allocated for natural disaster response. The agency has separate programs administered by the Department of Homeland Security to shelter migrants.

Congressional leadership has also faced calls from members on both sides of the aisle in recent weeks to return early from recess to pass more funding for FEMA’s disaster relief fund. Biden administration officials have signaled there is enough funding for the immediate needs after Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, but that the fund is running low.

Republicans and Democrats have introduced bills in the aftermath of hurricanes Helene and Milton for additional disaster aid, including a $15 billion proposal offered by Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) and a $20 billion pitch from Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and others. 

Congress left in late September for recess, and the House and Senate aren’t expected to return until Nov. 12, after Election Day.

President Biden signaled at the time that Congress may need to return early to pass additional funding.

Hurricane Helene tore through Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina just as lawmakers departed for recess, killing more than 200 people and causing catastrophic damage.
Earlier this month, Hurricane Milton slammed parts of Florida, causing significant damage and killing several people.