Four FEMA employees fired after authorizing nearly $60 million in payments for housing illegal migrants in luxury hotels across New York City. The decision comes after revelations that these individuals bypassed leadership and violated federal regulations to issue the funds.
Elon Musk first exposed the situation early Monday morning, revealing that FEMA had recently sent $59 million to upscale hotels, including the Roosevelt Hotel in Manhattan, to accommodate illegal migrants.
Musk claimed the payments were not only unlawful but also in direct violation of President Trump’s executive order on federal spending. He vowed to recover the funds on behalf of American taxpayers.
Following an internal investigation, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the termination of four FEMA employees responsible for the payments.
According to The Washington Examiner’s Anna Giaritelli, the individuals have been labeled as “deep state activists” who deliberately circumvented FEMA’s leadership to push through the payments without proper authorization.
“Effective immediately, FEMA is terminating the employment of four individuals for circumventing leadership to unilaterally make egregious payments for luxury NYC hotels for migrants,” DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin confirmed in a statement.
Among those fired is FEMA’s Chief Financial Officer, Mary Comans, along with two program analysts and a grant specialist. The removal of Comans is particularly significant, as she and her team controlled billions in FEMA funding and played a central role in financial decision-making within the agency.
A resurfaced video of Comans discussing FEMA’s mission to “use resources efficiently” has since drawn criticism, with many calling her actions a stark contradiction to her public statements.
BREAKING: FEMA’s CFO, Mary Comans has been FIRED for funding LUXURY hotels for criminal aliens in NYC.
— Jack (@jackunheard) February 11, 2025
Here is her saying FEMA’s mission is to use resources EFFICIENTLY.
Well, that was a lie.
H/t: @bennyjohnson
pic.twitter.com/NnK6qabx9A
The controversy erupted after Musk’s disclosure of the payments, which he argued directly undermined the administration’s efforts to curb illegal immigration and enforce stricter spending measures. The revelation prompted immediate backlash from both federal officials and the public, demanding accountability for the unauthorized use of taxpayer dollars.
Adding to the fallout, Giaritelli confirmed that the Department of Government Oversight and Ethics (DOGE) has successfully reclaimed the misallocated funds, aligning with Musk’s earlier pledge to ensure the money was returned to taxpayers.
“Yes,” Giaritelli confirmed in response to inquiries about whether the funds had been recovered.
The swift firings and financial recovery signal a strong stance from the Trump administration against bureaucratic overreach and unauthorized government spending. Officials have reiterated their commitment to ensuring that federal funds are used in accordance with the law and executive directives.
The scandal also raises broader concerns about internal resistance within federal agencies. The revelation that senior officials acted independently to allocate substantial funds in defiance of presidential policy highlights ongoing struggles between the administration and entrenched government figures.
As investigations continue, further scrutiny is expected regarding FEMA’s financial practices and oversight mechanisms. With billions of dollars at its disposal, the agency now faces increased pressure to implement stricter accountability measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
For now, the firings serve as a stark warning to federal employees who attempt to undermine executive authority, while the recovery of funds marks a victory for those advocating responsible government spending.