**FEMA Chief Rebukes Trump Over False Claims on Disaster Relief Funding**

FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell has criticized former President Donald Trump for disseminating incorrect information regarding the allocation of disaster relief funds by the Biden administration for Hurricane Helene recovery. Trump had falsely asserted that FEMA was depleting its funds to support disaster relief efforts because the money was redirected to deal with illegal migrants entering the country.

In an interview on ABC’s "This Week," Criswell labeled Trump’s claims as "frankly ridiculous and just plain false." She emphasized that such rhetoric is unhelpful, stating, "It's really a shame that we're putting politics ahead of helping people." Criswell's comments come as hurricane season intensifies, highlighting the urgency and importance of accurate information dissemination during such times.

FEMA and other official agencies have undertaken efforts to debunk the misinformation. On FEMA's "Rumor Response" webpage, the agency directly countered the claim that disaster relief funding was diverted to international or border-related issues, stating unequivocally, "This is false. No money is being diverted from disaster response needs."

The Department of Homeland Security and the White House have also released statements fact-checking and denouncing the false information. Nonetheless, the Trump campaign and supporters, including Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, have persisted in spreading disinformation about the Helene recovery effort. Criswell noted that such rhetoric is "demoralizing to all of the first responders that have been out there in their communities helping people."

Despite operating on a constrained budget over the past year, FEMA recently received a significant financial boost. A stopgap funding bill passed by Congress to avoid a government shutdown went into effect last Tuesday, granting FEMA a $20 billion increase in funds. However, White House officials and representatives from areas affected by Hurricane Helene have indicated that Congress will likely need to pass an additional supplemental disaster relief package to further support FEMA’s rebuilding efforts.

As the recovery process continues, the dissemination of accurate information remains crucial to support and coordinate effective aid efforts.