The startling admission by Mayorkas comes as FEMA grapples with the widespread damage of Hurricane Helene, A Category 4 hurricane that ripped through the southeast costing billions of dollars, causing widespread infrastructure damage, food shortages, and more than 100 deaths. Many are still unaccounted for as well.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency launched a “rumor response” page on its website Thursday to try to counter what it calls “false” accusations that it has diverted disaster relief funds to house migrants to the U.