GOP Congressman Urges Biden To Redirect Foreign Aid To Hurricane Victims

Republican Florida Rep. Brian Mast has directly challenged President Joe Biden's approach to foreign aid in light of the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, which has claimed over 150 lives and caused widespread destruction across several states.

Mast’s message to Biden was clear: prioritize Americans first. He urged the President to redirect a $336 million foreign aid package intended for Hamas-controlled Gaza and use those funds to help the storm's victims in the U.S. rebuild their lives.

In his letter to Biden, Mast emphasized the immediate need for resources to be focused on American soil, given the scale of the destruction caused by the Category 4 hurricane.

While your administration has mobilized federal agencies and resources to respond to this disaster, the full cost of the damage is unlikely to become clear for weeks to come. In light of that reality, I urge you to put America First and ensure federal agencies coordinating relief and rebuilding efforts have sufficient funding in place,” he wrote.

Mast went a step further, arguing that existing foreign assistance funds allocated to areas like Gaza, which is controlled by Hamas, should be repurposed. He pointed out that the $336 million package for Gaza could be a clear candidate for this redirection, saying, “Using existing presidential authority, the White House should raid foreign assistance funds earmarked for countries and jurisdictions run by regimes and terrorist groups working against America’s interest.”

Adding to the urgency of Mast's appeal, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas warned that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) might not have the funds to sustain relief efforts throughout this hurricane season. With estimated damages from Hurricane Helene potentially reaching as high as $35 billion, according to reinsurance firm Gallagher Re, the financial strain on FEMA is intense.

Despite FEMA’s efforts, which include deploying over 1,500 FEMA workers and distributing millions of meals and liters of water to affected areas, it remains clear that more support will be necessary. Asheville, North Carolina, for instance, was one of the hardest-hit areas, suffering extensive infrastructure damage, widespread power outages, and loss of communication services, leaving it in a state of isolation.

In a landscape where resources are stretched thin, Mast's call for redirecting funds from international aid back to domestic disaster relief taps into a broader debate about prioritizing U.S. tax dollars. He criticized the continued financial support for Palestinian territories, arguing, “The United States has contributed billions of dollars over the years to the cause of the Palestinians with no tangible benefit to American interests to show for it. Simply put, America’s tax dollars should feed families at home — not fuel our foes abroad.”

The situation now rests in the hands of Congress, which may need to reconvene before its scheduled November 12 session to approve more emergency funding. House Speaker Mike Johnson signaled that lawmakers are prepared to do their part to support disaster recovery efforts, noting that $20 billion in disaster relief has already been allocated to FEMA. However, the urgency of the situation makes it clear that every available dollar counts.