Unbelievable! Elon Musk Accused of ‘Robbing’ $80 Million From New York City’s Bank Account With This Shocking Trick
Elon Musk, the billionaire CEO of Tesla and head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), is under fire from New York City Comptroller Brad Lander. The controversy stems from Musk’s role in the revocation of $80 million in federal grants intended to support New York City’s efforts to provide shelter and services to migrants. Lander has accused Musk of “robbing” NYC of critical funds, calling the move “highway robbery” and “illegal.”
The dispute began when Musk raised objections to FEMA’s Shelter and Service Program, which was established in 2023 to provide shelter, food, medical care, and personal hygiene supplies to migrants. In a tweet, Musk claimed that FEMA had sent $59 million to luxury hotels in New York City to house “illegal migrants,” calling the allocation a violation of the law and an act of “gross insubordination” to President Trump’s executive order. Musk argued that the funds were meant for American disaster relief, not for housing migrants in high-end hotels. He announced that a clawback demand would be made to recover the money.
Following Musk’s tweet, the White House acted swiftly, revoking $80 million in grants. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the decision, stating, “Sending $59 million to a migrant hotel to house illegal immigrants when there are still people in North Carolina and California who have not received FEMA funding is not something this administration is going to tolerate.”
However, Brad Lander, the New York City Comptroller, has strongly criticized the move. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Lander revealed that his office discovered the $80 million in authorized, allocated, and paid federal aid had been “wiped” from the city’s bank account. He accused Musk of acting without legal authority and illegally seizing federal funds meant for New Yorkers.
Lander emphasized that the funds were crucial for providing shelter and services to migrants, many of whom had registered with the federal government upon entering the country. He pointed out that New York City had stepped up to address the migrant crisis, often at significant cost to the city. Lander also refuted Musk’s claim about the funds being used for luxury hotels, noting that the federal program in question has a $12.50 per night cap on hotel and shelter prices—far less than what New York City has had to pay for tents at Floyd Bennett Field and Randall’s Island, let alone hotels.
The revocation of the funds has sparked a heated debate about the priorities of the federal government and the role of figures like Elon Musk in shaping policy. Critics argue that the move undermines New York City’s ability to manage the ongoing migrant crisis, while supporters of Musk and the Trump administration claim it is necessary to ensure that FEMA funds are used appropriately for disaster relief.
As the controversy unfolds, questions remain about the legality of the decision and its impact on New York City’s efforts to support migrants. Lander has vowed to fight back, calling the revocation “unacceptable” and vowing to hold those responsible accountable.
What do you think? Was Elon Musk justified in calling for the revocation of the funds, or is this an overreach that harms vulnerable communities? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
