In a recent interview with Joe Pags, Florida Representative Matt Gaetz provided critical insights on the handling of Hurricane Milton, the allocation of FEMA funds, and his thoughts on the political response to disaster management. Gaetz expressed frustration with the current federal approach, calling attention to significant mismanagement of funds intended for disaster relief.
According to Gaetz, FEMA is sitting on $640 million in housing assistance, which was meant for Americans displaced by natural disasters. Instead, he claims, these funds have been used to house illegal immigrants through state and local grants. "That’s the money that has been used to house illegal aliens, migrants, in hotel rooms," he emphasized.
At the same time, Gaetz noted, the Department of Homeland Security's Inspector General revealed that over $7 billion in disaster relief funds remain unspent, tied up in incomplete grant projects dating back as far as 16 years. “We’ve got grant programs that are as old as 16 years old and there’s never been any work done,” Gaetz said, stressing the need for better oversight of these programs to free up funds for current disaster relief efforts.
As Florida braced for Hurricane Milton, Gaetz detailed how his district has been preparing. The congressman assured listeners that hotels and resorts are offering discounts for displaced Floridians, and the Pensacola Bay Center has been set up as a staging ground for those in need of temporary shelter. He also praised the efforts of military installations like MacDill Air Force Base for proactively positioning resources to limit damage.
Rep. Matt Gaetz also addressed Vice President Kamala Harris’ involvement in disaster relief efforts, calling her approach "off-putting" and "counterproductive." Gaetz stated, "We train year-round for this... we do coordination lines between federal, state, and local [authorities], and then for her to show up at the last minute wanting to have a narrative built around her participation, it's very off-putting to us." He emphasized that Florida’s emergency response system operates effectively without the need for political posturing.
For Gaetz, disaster management should remain a non-partisan issue. He highlighted that in Florida, the response has always been apolitical, praising Governor Ron DeSantis for his handling of recent disasters. “We don’t see Republican-Democrat in these times,” Gaetz asserted, reflecting the state's commitment to helping Floridians in need, regardless of political affiliation.
To hear more from Rep. Matt Gaetz on the current state of FEMA, disaster relief, and how Florida is preparing for future storms, listen to the full interview below.