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Hurricane Helena devastation in NC!

WBC: My understanding is that FEMA decides on the disbursement of DHS funds to some other programs
ChatGPT: You are correct that FEMA, which is part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has responsibilities that involve the allocation and disbursement of funds for various programs. However, it's important to clarify the scope and nature of these activities within the broader context of DHS funding and FEMA’s role.
FEMA’s Role and Funding Allocation
1. DHS Funding: As an agency under DHS, FEMA's budget is part of the larger DHS budget, which is allocated by Congress. The funding that FEMA manages is primarily intended for disaster relief, preparedness, and related activities.
2. Grant Programs: One of the key areas where FEMA has a significant role in disbursing funds is through various grant programs. These grants are aimed at strengthening the capabilities of state and local governments, as well as tribal and territorial jurisdictions, to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters and emergencies. Some of the major FEMA grant programs include:
o Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP): Supports a variety of activities, including planning, equipment purchase, training, and exercise programs for enhancing the ability to prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from terrorist attacks and other disasters.
o Emergency Management Performance Grants (EMPG): Provides funds to help state and local governments enhance and sustain all-hazards emergency management capabilities.
3. Disaster Relief Fund (DRF): As mentioned earlier, FEMA manages the DRF, which is specifically for disaster-related expenses. The use of DRF funds is strictly governed by legal requirements and is intended for disaster response, recovery, and mitigation efforts.
4. Cooperation with Other DHS Agencies: While FEMA does not typically decide on the disbursement of DHS funds outside its designated programs, it works in coordination with other DHS agencies when their activities intersect with emergency management. For example, in cases of major emergencies involving security threats, FEMA may coordinate with other DHS components like the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) or the U.S. Coast Guard.
Conclusion
FEMA's funding decisions are focused on its mission areas and the programs that it directly manages. While FEMA is a critical component of DHS and plays a key role in emergency management funding, its authority to allocate DHS funds generally does not extend to unrelated programs outside its direct purview. Instead, FEMA’s role involves managing and disbursing funds within its allocated budget and grant programs to support its mission of helping people before, during, and after disasters.

WBC: What about the customs and border patrol department
ChatGPT: Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is another agency under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), much like FEMA. However, their functions, funding, and operational focuses are distinct.
Functions and Responsibilities of CBP
CBP is primarily responsible for securing the borders of the United States, including the facilitation of lawful international travel and trade. The agency's roles include:
• Border Security: Securing U.S. borders while enabling legitimate travel and trade. This includes preventing the illegal smuggling of people and contraband such as drugs, weapons, and other illegal goods.
• Customs: Administering customs regulations, including the assessment and collection of tariffs on imported goods.
• Immigration: Enforcing immigration regulations at and between U.S. ports of entry.
• Agricultural Protection: Enforcing regulations intended to prevent harmful pests and diseases from entering the U.S.
Funding and Budget
CBP's funding is appropriated by Congress, typically through the DHS annual budget process. The agency's funding supports a broad range of border security and customs functions, including:
• Staffing (Border Patrol agents, CBP officers, agricultural specialists, etc.)
• Technology (surveillance technology, communication equipment, etc.)
• Infrastructure (ports of entry, border barriers, etc.)
Differences from FEMA
While FEMA and CBP are both under DHS, their funding and operational goals do not typically overlap. FEMA is focused on disaster preparedness, response, and recovery, whereas CBP focuses on border security and the enforcement of customs and immigration laws.
• Funding Streams: Each agency has its dedicated funding streams that are appropriated specifically for their operational needs. FEMA’s funds are largely dedicated to disaster-related activities and grants for emergency preparedness and response, whereas CBP’s funding is geared towards border security, customs duties, and immigration enforcement.
• Operational Collaboration: There might be operational collaboration between FEMA and CBP during disaster responses that involve border areas or in the logistics of delivering supplies and aid. However, such collaborations are situational and based on the specific demands of a disaster scenario.
Conclusion
CBP operates with a clear focus on securing America’s borders and regulating the flow of people and goods into and out of the country, whereas FEMA is focused on managing and mitigating disasters. Both play critical roles within DHS but are funded and operate independently based on their specific mandates.

WBC: What about Shelter and Services Program (SSP)
ChatGPT: The Shelter and Services Program (SSP) is not a specific program directly managed by FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) or CBP (Customs and Border Protection). If you are referring to FEMA's involvement in providing shelter and related services in the aftermath of disasters, it is primarily through broader disaster relief efforts and specific assistance programs, rather than a program explicitly called "SSP."
However, FEMA does operate several programs and collaborates with local, state, and federal partners to provide temporary shelter and essential services to those affected by disasters. Here are some details about the general framework of these efforts:
FEMA's Disaster Assistance Programs
1. Individuals and Households Program (IHP): Provides financial and direct services to those who have necessary expenses and serious needs if they are unable to meet these needs through other means. This can include temporary housing, home repair, and replacement.
2. Mass Care and Emergency Assistance: This involves partnering with various organizations to provide immediate shelter, food, and supplies. This also includes Disaster Recovery Centers where survivors can go to receive information and apply for assistance.
3. Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program: Supports mental health services and counseling for disaster survivors.
Collaborative Efforts
FEMA collaborates with local governments, the Red Cross, and other nonprofit organizations to manage shelters and provide essential services. The National Response Framework and the National Disaster Recovery Framework guide these efforts, ensuring a coordinated response across multiple agencies and organizations.
Specific to Border-Related Services
If your question pertains to shelters and services at U.S. borders, particularly concerning migrants or refugees, such responsibilities would fall under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with agencies like CBP and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) playing significant roles. These agencies manage facilities and programs designed to handle the immediate needs of migrants, including temporary holding and processing facilities. However, these are not typically referred to as part of an SSP.
Conclusion
In terms of disaster response and recovery, FEMA's role involves a comprehensive approach to shelter and services, coordinated with other government and non-government entities. Each response is tailored to the specific needs of the disaster and the affected community, aiming to provide immediate relief and support long-term recovery. For border-specific services and shelters related to immigration and customs, the responsibilities primarily rest with other agencies within DHS, such as CBP and ICE.
 
WBC: Why don't you discuss the large amounts of money going to support illegal immigrants

ChatGPT: The topic of funding for services related to undocumented immigrants in the United States can be complex and often politically charged. Various federal, state, and local resources are allocated in different ways to address the needs of undocumented immigrants, particularly in contexts such as healthcare, education, and legal processing. Here's a breakdown of how and why these funds are used:
Federal Funding
1. Legal Processing and Enforcement: A significant portion of federal funding related to undocumented immigrants is allocated to enforcement and legal proceedings. This includes the costs of detaining, processing, and deporting individuals who are found to be in the country without legal permission. Agencies like Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), both under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), receive funding for these activities.
2. Healthcare and Emergency Services: Federal law (specifically, the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act, or EMTALA) mandates that emergency healthcare services must be provided to all individuals regardless of their immigration status. This means hospitals and emergency services funded by Medicare and other government programs cannot deny emergency care to anyone, a mandate that indirectly involves federal funds.
3. Education: The U.S. Supreme Court decision in Plyler v. Doe (1982) prohibits denying children access to public education based on their immigration status. Therefore, public schools receive state and federal funding to educate all children, including those who are undocumented.
State and Local Funding
States and localities might also allocate resources to support undocumented immigrants, often justified by the goal of ensuring public health, safety, and overall community well-being. For example, some states provide access to health benefits, legal aid, and other community services regardless of immigration status.
Rationale Behind Funding
1. Legal Obligations: As noted, certain services are mandated by law, such as emergency medical care and public education for children.
2. Public Health and Safety: Providing basic healthcare, vaccinations, and public health services to all individuals, including undocumented immigrants, is seen as vital for the overall health and safety of the community.
3. Economic Considerations: Undocumented immigrants contribute to the economy, including paying sales taxes and, in some cases, income taxes. Providing certain services helps maintain a stable workforce and community structure.
4. Humanitarian Reasons: There are also humanitarian arguments made for the provision of services to individuals, particularly those who are vulnerable, such as children and asylum seekers.
Political and Public Discourse
The allocation of funds for services to undocumented immigrants is frequently debated in political and public spheres. Opinions vary widely, with some arguing for more restrictive policies and associated funding, while others advocate for more comprehensive support based on humanitarian or economic grounds.
Understanding the scope, reasons, and mechanisms for funding related to undocumented immigrants requires considering legal mandates, humanitarian principles, economic impacts, and the federal structure of governance which allows different states to implement varying policies according to their local preferences and capacities.
 
WBC: Who decides how money is allocated between FEMA and the CBP

ChatGPT: The allocation of funds between FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) and CBP (Customs and Border Protection) is primarily determined through the federal budget process involving both the Executive branch and Congress.
1. Presidential Budget Request:
Each year, the President of the United States, through the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), submits a budget request to Congress. This request outlines proposed spending for all federal agencies, including FEMA and CBP, which are under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The budget request is formulated based on the priorities and policy objectives of the administration, along with input from each agency about their operational needs and strategic goals.
2. Congressional Review and Approval:
Once the President's budget request is submitted, it is up to Congress to review, modify, and approve government spending. This process involves several steps:
• Appropriations Committees: Both the House and the Senate have Appropriations Committees, each with subcommittees focusing on different areas of the government, including Homeland Security. These subcommittees review the budget requests for each agency, including FEMA and CBP, conduct hearings with agency officials, and draft appropriations bills that detail the levels of funding and specific conditions on their use.
• Congressional Approval: After the appropriations bills are drafted, they must be passed by both the House and the Senate. The process often involves negotiations and amendments to reconcile differences between the House and Senate versions of the bills.
• Presidential Approval: Once Congress passes the appropriations bills, they are sent to the President, who can sign them into law or veto them.
3. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Internal Allocations:
Within the overall budget allocated to DHS by Congress, the Department itself may make further allocations based on immediate needs, strategic changes, or unanticipated situations that require funding shifts. DHS ensures that each agency under its umbrella, including FEMA and CBP, receives the resources necessary to fulfill its mission while adhering to the legal constraints and directives specified by Congress.
Conclusion:
The allocation of money between FEMA and CBP is a complex process involving both strategic planning by the Executive branch and rigorous review and approval by Congress. This ensures that each agency receives funding based on national priorities, security needs, and the specific challenges they face in fulfilling their respective missions.
WBC: Can the White House, that is the Executive Branch of government, authorize such transfers?

ChatGPT: The ability of the Executive Branch, including the White House, to authorize the transfer of funds between federal agencies is limited and generally structured by laws set by Congress. Here’s an overview of how the Executive Branch can influence such transfers:
1. Congressional Appropriations and Authorizations:
• Primary Authority: Congress holds the "power of the purse," meaning it has the primary authority to appropriate funds and specify how those funds are to be used by federal agencies. This includes setting limits and conditions on the transfer of funds between agencies.
• Legislative Permissions: Congress may grant specific transfer authorities in appropriations legislation, allowing agencies some flexibility to transfer funds among programs or to other agencies within certain limits. These permissions often require notification to or approval from Congress.
2. Presidential Influence:
• Budget Proposal: While the President cannot directly move funds between agencies without congressional authorization, the President’s annual budget proposal can recommend reallocations of resources and changes in funding levels for various programs. This proposal serves as a policy statement and a starting point for congressional budget negotiations.
• Reprogramming Requests: For certain types of fund transfers or reprogramming, executive agencies may need to notify and, in some cases, obtain approval from the relevant congressional appropriations committees. The White House can influence these requests, which are then reviewed on a case-by-case basis according to rules set by Congress.
3. Emergency Situations:
• National Emergencies: In the event of a national emergency, the President has broader powers. For instance, under the National Emergencies Act, the President can activate special powers through an emergency declaration that can include reallocating funds from certain military projects to emergency needs.
• Disaster Response: In specific scenarios like disaster response, the Stafford Act provides mechanisms for the President to direct federal assistance and potentially reallocate resources within federal agencies as part of the national response to significant disasters or emergencies.
4. Executive Orders and Directives:
• Management and Administrative Directives: The President can issue executive orders and other directives that influence how agencies manage and prioritize their resources. However, these orders must still comply with the laws and appropriations set by Congress.
Conclusion:
The Executive Branch, including the White House, plays a significant role in shaping how resources are requested and proposed in the federal budget. However, the actual authority to authorize fund transfers between agencies rests primarily with Congress, which sets the legal and budgetary frameworks. Executive influence is notable in the budgeting process, preparation for emergencies, and in reprogramming requests, but always within the boundaries established by congressional legislation.
 
WBC: How is the accounting handled for the DHS, FEMA and the CBP. Are they for example treated as separate legal entities?

ChatGPT. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), along with its component agencies such as FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) and CBP (Customs and Border Protection), operate under the overall umbrella of the federal government, but they are treated as separate entities in terms of budgeting, accounting, and operational management. Here’s how accounting is generally handled for these agencies:
1. Budgeting and Accounting Structure:
• Separate Budgets: Each agency within DHS, including FEMA and CBP, receives its own budget allocation, which is appropriated by Congress. These allocations are detailed in the annual appropriations acts and are specific to each agency based on their operational needs and objectives.
• Separate Financial Management: FEMA, CBP, and other DHS agencies have their own financial management systems, which are used for tracking expenditures, managing contracts, and handling other financial operations. These systems ensure that each agency can account for its funds in accordance with federal financial management standards.
2. Financial Reporting:
• Agency Financial Reports (AFR): Each agency within DHS prepares its own Annual Financial Report (AFR), which provides a comprehensive overview of the agency’s financial status, including assets, liabilities, costs, and funding sources. These reports are required by law and are part of the government’s efforts to maintain transparency and accountability in financial management.
• Department-Level Consolidation: While each agency prepares its own financial report, DHS also consolidates these reports into a department-wide Annual Financial Report. This consolidated report includes financial statements for DHS as a whole, combining information from all its components.
3. Audit and Oversight:
• Internal Controls: Each agency has an Office of Chief Financial Officer (CFO) or an equivalent, which is responsible for internal controls, financial reporting, and ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
• External Audit: The financial statements of DHS and its components are audited by independent external auditors as part of the federal government’s annual audit process. The results are included in the agencies' Annual Financial Reports.
• Congressional Oversight: Congress, through its various committees, provides oversight over the financial management practices of DHS and its agencies. This includes reviews of budget requests, spending reports, and audits.
4. Legal Entity Status:
• Not Separate Legal Entities: Although FEMA, CBP, and other DHS agencies operate with a degree of autonomy in financial management, they are not separate legal entities. They are parts of the U.S. federal government and are subject to the overarching policies, controls, and regulations that govern all federal agencies.
• Unified Under DHS: All these agencies are unified under the Department of Homeland Security, which provides policy guidance and strategic direction. DHS ensures that the individual components coordinate effectively in carrying out the department’s overall mission.
Conclusion:
In summary, while FEMA, CBP, and other DHS components manage their accounting and financial reporting separately to ensure detailed tracking and accountability for their specific activities, they are not separate legal entities. They are integral parts of the federal government, operating under the collective framework of the Department of Homeland Security. This structure is designed to maintain both autonomy in operations and integration within the broader objectives of national security and emergency management.
 
WBC: Is it possible for these independent agencies to make loans or resources available to other agencies?

ChatGPT: In the U.S. federal government structure, agencies like FEMA and CBP, which are components of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), generally do not have the authority to independently make loans or directly transfer funds to other agencies without specific legislative authorization or interagency agreements approved at higher levels of government. Here’s how interagency resource sharing typically works:
1. Legal and Regulatory Framework:
• Appropriations Law: Under U.S. appropriations law, funds provided by Congress to a federal agency are intended for specific purposes outlined in the appropriations act. Agencies are required to use these funds only for their designated purposes unless Congress explicitly provides flexibility.
• Anti-Deficiency Act: This law prohibits federal agencies from spending or committing more funds than they have been appropriated, which includes making loans or transferring resources that could result in exceeding their budget authority.
2. Interagency Agreements:
• Economy Act Transactions: The Economy Act allows federal agencies to order goods and services from other federal agencies when it is more economical or efficient. This mechanism can be used for sharing resources or capabilities that one agency can provide to another. For instance, one agency might have specialized equipment or expertise that is temporarily needed by another agency.
• Reimbursable Services: Agencies often enter into agreements where one agency performs services for another on a reimbursable basis. For example, FEMA might utilize another agency’s technology or facilities for disaster response efforts, agreeing to reimburse the costs incurred by the providing agency.
3. Specific Legislative Authorizations:
• Special Cases: In some instances, specific legislation may authorize an agency to transfer funds or provide loans to another agency. These cases are usually tied to specific needs or situations, such as emergency responses or joint initiatives that have been clearly outlined by Congress.
4. Resource Sharing in Emergencies:
• Emergency Support: During national emergencies or major disasters, agencies may support each other under coordinated frameworks such as the National Response Framework (NRF). Although this involves extensive cooperation and sharing of resources, it is typically managed through coordinated structures and processes rather than direct loans or transfers of funds.
5. Budgetary Transfers:
• Transfer Authority: Some agencies have transfer authority that allows them to shift a limited amount of their budget to other agencies or programs within the same department, subject to specific rules and oversight. This is often predefined in the appropriations language or in special legislation.
Conclusion:
While direct loans between agencies like FEMA and CBP are not a standard practice due to legal and budgetary constraints, there are structured ways that resources, services, and support can be shared among agencies. These mechanisms ensure that while agencies operate within their budgetary confines, they can still collaborate and support each other effectively, especially in fulfilling complex and multi-faceted missions such as those encountered in national security and emergency management.
 
WBC: Can the White House, that is the Executive Branch of government, authorize such transfers?

ChatGPT: The ability of the Executive Branch, including the White House, to authorize the transfer of funds between federal agencies is limited and generally structured by laws set by Congress. Here’s an overview of how the Executive Branch can influence such transfers:
1. Congressional Appropriations and Authorizations:
• Primary Authority: Congress holds the "power of the purse," meaning it has the primary authority to appropriate funds and specify how those funds are to be used by federal agencies. This includes setting limits and conditions on the transfer of funds between agencies.
• Legislative Permissions: Congress may grant specific transfer authorities in appropriations legislation, allowing agencies some flexibility to transfer funds among programs or to other agencies within certain limits. These permissions often require notification to or approval from Congress.
2. Presidential Influence:
• Budget Proposal: While the President cannot directly move funds between agencies without congressional authorization, the President’s annual budget proposal can recommend reallocations of resources and changes in funding levels for various programs. This proposal serves as a policy statement and a starting point for congressional budget negotiations.
• Reprogramming Requests: For certain types of fund transfers or reprogramming, executive agencies may need to notify and, in some cases, obtain approval from the relevant congressional appropriations committees. The White House can influence these requests, which are then reviewed on a case-by-case basis according to rules set by Congress.
3. Emergency Situations:
• National Emergencies: In the event of a national emergency, the President has broader powers. For instance, under the National Emergencies Act, the President can activate special powers through an emergency declaration that can include reallocating funds from certain military projects to emergency needs.
• Disaster Response: In specific scenarios like disaster response, the Stafford Act provides mechanisms for the President to direct federal assistance and potentially reallocate resources within federal agencies as part of the national response to significant disasters or emergencies.
4. Executive Orders and Directives:
• Management and Administrative Directives: The President can issue executive orders and other directives that influence how agencies manage and prioritize their resources. However, these orders must still comply with the laws and appropriations set by Congress.
Conclusion:
The Executive Branch, including the White House, plays a significant role in shaping how resources are requested and proposed in the federal budget. However, the actual authority to authorize fund transfers between agencies rests primarily with Congress, which sets the legal and budgetary frameworks. Executive influence is notable in the budgeting process, preparation for emergencies, and in reprogramming requests, but always within the boundaries established by congressional legislation.
 
WBC: Is it possible for these independent agencies to make loans or resources available to other agencies?

ChatGPT: In the U.S. federal government structure, agencies like FEMA and CBP, which are components of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), generally do not have the authority to independently make loans or directly transfer funds to other agencies without specific legislative authorization or interagency agreements approved at higher levels of government. Here’s how interagency resource sharing typically works:
1. Legal and Regulatory Framework:
• Appropriations Law: Under U.S. appropriations law, funds provided by Congress to a federal agency are intended for specific purposes outlined in the appropriations act. Agencies are required to use these funds only for their designated purposes unless Congress explicitly provides flexibility.
• Anti-Deficiency Act: This law prohibits federal agencies from spending or committing more funds than they have been appropriated, which includes making loans or transferring resources that could result in exceeding their budget authority.
2. Interagency Agreements:
• Economy Act Transactions: The Economy Act allows federal agencies to order goods and services from other federal agencies when it is more economical or efficient. This mechanism can be used for sharing resources or capabilities that one agency can provide to another. For instance, one agency might have specialized equipment or expertise that is temporarily needed by another agency.
• Reimbursable Services: Agencies often enter into agreements where one agency performs services for another on a reimbursable basis. For example, FEMA might utilize another agency’s technology or facilities for disaster response efforts, agreeing to reimburse the costs incurred by the providing agency.
3. Specific Legislative Authorizations:
• Special Cases: In some instances, specific legislation may authorize an agency to transfer funds or provide loans to another agency. These cases are usually tied to specific needs or situations, such as emergency responses or joint initiatives that have been clearly outlined by Congress.
4. Resource Sharing in Emergencies:
• Emergency Support: During national emergencies or major disasters, agencies may support each other under coordinated frameworks such as the National Response Framework (NRF). Although this involves extensive cooperation and sharing of resources, it is typically managed through coordinated structures and processes rather than direct loans or transfers of funds.
5. Budgetary Transfers:
• Transfer Authority: Some agencies have transfer authority that allows them to shift a limited amount of their budget to other agencies or programs within the same department, subject to specific rules and oversight. This is often predefined in the appropriations language or in special legislation.
Conclusion:
While direct loans between agencies like FEMA and CBP are not a standard practice due to legal and budgetary constraints, there are structured ways that resources, services, and support can be shared among agencies. These mechanisms ensure that while agencies operate within their budgetary confines, they can still collaborate and support each other effectively, especially in fulfilling complex and multi-faceted missions such as those encountered in national security and emergency management.
 
WBC: Can the White House, that is the Executive Branch of government, authorize such transfers?

ChatGPT: The ability of the Executive Branch, including the White House, to authorize the transfer of funds between federal agencies is limited and generally structured by laws set by Congress. Here’s an overview of how the Executive Branch can influence such transfers:
1. Congressional Appropriations and Authorizations:
• Primary Authority: Congress holds the "power of the purse," meaning it has the primary authority to appropriate funds and specify how those funds are to be used by federal agencies. This includes setting limits and conditions on the transfer of funds between agencies.
• Legislative Permissions: Congress may grant specific transfer authorities in appropriations legislation, allowing agencies some flexibility to transfer funds among programs or to other agencies within certain limits. These permissions often require notification to or approval from Congress.
2. Presidential Influence:
• Budget Proposal: While the President cannot directly move funds between agencies without congressional authorization, the President’s annual budget proposal can recommend reallocations of resources and changes in funding levels for various programs. This proposal serves as a policy statement and a starting point for congressional budget negotiations.
• Reprogramming Requests: For certain types of fund transfers or reprogramming, executive agencies may need to notify and, in some cases, obtain approval from the relevant congressional appropriations committees. The White House can influence these requests, which are then reviewed on a case-by-case basis according to rules set by Congress.
3. Emergency Situations:
• National Emergencies: In the event of a national emergency, the President has broader powers. For instance, under the National Emergencies Act, the President can activate special powers through an emergency declaration that can include reallocating funds from certain military projects to emergency needs.
• Disaster Response: In specific scenarios like disaster response, the Stafford Act provides mechanisms for the President to direct federal assistance and potentially reallocate resources within federal agencies as part of the national response to significant disasters or emergencies.
4. Executive Orders and Directives:
• Management and Administrative Directives: The President can issue executive orders and other directives that influence how agencies manage and prioritize their resources. However, these orders must still comply with the laws and appropriations set by Congress.
Conclusion:
The Executive Branch, including the White House, plays a significant role in shaping how resources are requested and proposed in the federal budget. However, the actual authority to authorize fund transfers between agencies rests primarily with Congress, which sets the legal and budgetary frameworks. Executive influence is notable in the budgeting process, preparation for emergencies, and in reprogramming requests, but always within the boundaries established by congressional legislation.
 
Because Trump speaks at a 4th grade level the following may be above the AF Trump supporters reading comprehension.

Back in May, DeSantis signed a state bill that bans the term “Climate Change” from state statutes. Somebody should tell the man, that banning the term doesn’t make it go away.

"Thoughts and Prayers" are all I can think to say since Florida has banned all climate "extreme weather events" fact based science to answer said question.

Why the Tampa Bay area is especially vulnerable as Hurricane Milton nears​

As the booming region faces the possibility of a direct hit from a major hurricane, the risks from storm surge are severe.

Hurricane Helene besieged the Tampa Bay region with flooding not seen in generations. But as another storm churns toward Florida’s west coast, Bob Weisberg, a professor emeritus at the University of South Florida, said he is more worried now than he was before Helene struck.

“I’m fearful,” Weisberg, an expert on storm surge, said Sunday. “This storm looks like it will actually make landfall along the west coast.”

Meteorology models are still working to project just how large and intense Hurricane Milton will become by midweek, and what path it will likely take as it churns across the Gulf of Mexico. If the storm veers south of Tampa Bay, the worst of Milton’s storm surge — when fierce winds push a mass of water onshore — would miss the area. But if Milton makes landfall in the Tampa Bay region or just north, as is possible, it will have hit one of the most susceptible places in the United States to severe flooding from a powerful hurricane.

With 700 miles of shoreline, more than 3 million residents, and an economy dependent on an annual influx of winter tourists, the region could face catastrophe from a direct hit, which has not happened since 1921, experts said. But changes have worsened that risk. Sea-level rise has increased the severity of even small storms and a development boom has put more people and buildings in harm’s way.


 
RCA said:
The meaning of "worthless in its own right" is that it is intrinsically worthless by itself. - You need something else to go along with it - purpose.



If you want to espouse your or other opinions, that is fine. Others can likewise express their views. But these opinions are not themselves facts, even if they come from so-called experts. Why do you criticize other's arguments that they are not "facts," when you espouse only personal opinions?

Your opinions are invariably devoid of arguments, relatively worthless, other than being a vote of support for some point of view.
Click to expand...
I said, a fact is not an opinion. I am not talking about your opinion or my opinion. (I already said that)
'
There are fact-checking sites online, and you said you believe fact-checking is worthless.
You chose to remain in the MAGA distorted version of facts and events echosphere-
 
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