President Donald Trump’s inaugural committee is donating $3 million of its remaining funds to aid organizations working on hurricane relief efforts.
The money will be donated to the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, and Samaritan’s Purse.
The announcement comes after Texas, Louisiana, Florida, and the Caribbean suffered severe damage as a result of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria.
Federal authorities announced on Thursday that 10,000 personnel have been deployed to Puerto Rico to help with relief efforts following category 4 Hurricane Maria.
Homeland Security adviser Tom Bossert said large amounts of supplies have been sent to the island and are now being distributed.
Bossert said 4 ports and 8 airports are now open again, as well as 67 hospitals operating, and 200 gas stations. Puerto Rico’s outdated electrical power grid suffered severe damage and most of the island remains without power.
Thank you to FEMA, our great Military & all First Responders who are working so hard,against terrible odds,in Puerto Rico. See you Tuesday!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 29, 2017
“The surplus of these privately donated funds will be put to great substantive use for relief victims throughout the heartbreaking regions of America impacted by the recent catastrophic disasters,” Thomas J. Barrack Jr., chairman of the private Presidential Inaugural Committee, told The New York Times.
The presidential inaugural committee raised $106.7 million, an unprecedented amount. President Barack Obama raised $53 million for his inauguration in 2009.
Barrack Jr. said earlier this year that the funds left over from Trump’s inauguration would be donated to charity.
“The committee will continue to curate worthwhile causes and make further contributions that serve America’s agenda and will conclude in accordance with its charter in the next few months,” Barrack Jr. said.
Trump and first lady Melania Trump donated $1 million in personal funds earlier this month in response to Hurricane Harvey, which for Texas has become the most costly natural disaster in history. They donated to 12 organizations, with over half of the funds going to Reach Out America, Red Cross, and the Salvation Army.
(Reuters/Carlos Garcia Rawlins)
