Democrats push to condemn GOP-backed hurricane disinformation

Democrats are pushing a resolution condemning the swell of disinformation peddled about recent major hurricanes that hit the Eastern Seaboard, including by politicians.

In the wake of hurricanes Helene and Milton, social media was flooded with disinformation about assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the disasters themselves.

A resolution from House Homeland Security Committee ranking member Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) and 36 other Democrats condemn the slew of false claims, at times pointing fingers at elected officials for “malicious rumors.”

“It’s inexcusable that many, including elected officials and candidates for office, have weaponized and politicized a tragedy in the final days of the election season to spread disinformation and conspiracy theories for political gain regarding the response to Hurricanes Helene and Milton,” Thompson said in a statement.

“First responders and the FEMA workforce come from across the country and work around the clock when disasters strike to help our communities respond and recover. Sadly, the reckless spread of disinformation and malicious rumors has hindered the response to these disasters and has prevented some from receiving the aid they deserve.”

GOP figures promoted inaccurate information about the weather events that ranged from Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) asserting “they can control the weather” to false information suggesting FEMA would only give very limited disaster assistance.

A conspiracy theory also emerged that the government would attempt to seize the land as part of an effort to mine for lithium.

FEMA has sounded the alarm on the dangers of false information, saying it is complicating an already difficult recovery effort. In a notable example, former President Trump bemoaned FEMA providing $750 to disaster survivors while the U.S. sends money to foreign countries. In actuality, the $750 payment is the initial form of support disaster survivors may receive, with additional types of assistance available thereafter.

The resolution argues the disinformation “potentially caused many such survivors to forfeit their deserved Federal support, both now and in the future.”

Trump also falsely claimed that “Kamala spent all her FEMA money, billions of dollars, on housing for illegal migrants, many of whom should not be in our country.”

Numerous fact checks have said FEMA’s spending on the transportation and shelter of migrants has not come at the expense of the agency’s disaster relief fund, which is used to address natural disasters — contrary to Trump’s claim that “$1 billion was stolen from FEMA to use it for illegal migrants.”

FEMA Director Dean Criswell previously criticized the swirl of disinformation, saying “I need to make sure I can get the resources to where they are needed, and when you have this dangerous rhetoric like you’re hearing, it creates fear in our own employees.”

The storms had deadly consequences. At least 24 people died in Hurricane Milton, and more than 230 died amid Hurricane Helene. Both also caused tens of billions of dollars in damages.

The resolution, co-sponsored by House Transportation and Infrastructure ranking member Rick Larsen (D-Wash.), also noted the false claims created an “unsafe atmosphere for FEMA employees,” noting that at one point the agency had to pause their door-to-door assistance operations.

“Unfortunately, bad faith actors have spread malicious rumors and disinformation, putting FEMA workers at risk and preventing people in need from receiving necessary aid,” Larsen said.