An ex-FEMA official who was fired over payments to New York City for housing migrants in what critics called "luxury hotels" has sued the Trump administration.

A viral post claims that FEMA sent hurricane relief funds to New York City earlier this month to pay for housing illegal immigrants in hotels. “Elon just announced … The Biden Administration stole FEMA money that was meant for American hurricane victims and spent it on luxury hotels for illegals in New York!” the post reads.

After being pushed out for sending an unauthorized payment, FEMA’s former CFO has filed a lawsuit in D.C. district court.

Speaking to a joint session of Congress in early March 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that his administration identified $59 million in federal funding that had been spent on New York City hotel rooms to house immigrants living in the country illegally. Elon Musk, an adviser to Trump, made the same claim in the past, as well.