The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has blocked former Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick and her brother and associates from accessing federal disaster funds.
Their access to disaster funds was suspended “following a federal indictment alleging they misappropriated approximately $5.7 million in disaster funds and used the proceeds for personal enrichment and illegal campaign contributions,” according to a DHS press release.
🚨DHS and @FEMA have SUSPENDED Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, her brother, and multiple associates from receiving future federal funds.
These individuals were indicted for funneling OVER $5 MILLION of FEMA relief funds for personal enrichment and illegal campaign… https://t.co/KE3HuPGOHs
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) May 1, 2026
“Former Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick abused Americans’ trust in the most egregious way possible. She manipulated the COVID-19 crisis to funnel over $5 million dollars of FEMA relief funds to her and her family members,” DHS General Counsel James Percival said in a statement.
“This is outright fraud. That’s exactly what a federal grand jury and the U.S. House of Representatives found. I am proud that my office is taking the first step to ensure she is held accountable and American taxpayers’ money is protected from further misuse,” he added.
The suspension comes a few weeks after Cherfilus-McCormick resigned in disgrace moments before the House Ethics Committee was about to recommend that she be expelled.
In January, the committee released a damning report saying that they had “substantial reason to believe” that she had violated the law and that they were “bringing charges” against her related to campaign finance laws and regulations.
Florida Congressman Greg Steube announced at the time that he’d be filing a resolution to expel her from Congress.
In November, I filed a resolution to expel @CongresswomanSC following her indictment by the DOJ.
Today’s House Ethics findings detail more than two dozen counts of serious financial crimes.
When we return to Washington, I’ll call up a resolution to expel her from Congress.… https://t.co/s1NSvqxxpx
— Congressman Greg Steube (@RepGregSteube) January 30, 2026
The Ethics Committee report was based on Cherfilus-McCormick being indicted in November for stealing $5 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and using it to fund her campaign for office.
As previously reported, prosecutors alleged that she and her brother had received a $5 million FEMA overpayment in July of 2021, “while their health care company was working on a FEMA-funded staffing contract tied to COVID-19 vaccinations.”
But instead of returning the money, Cherfilus-McCormick and her brother allegedly decided to steal it by routing it “through multiple accounts” to disguise their source.
In March, the bipartisan Ethics Committee found in a ruling that Cherfilus-McCormick had committed 25 violations of House rules and ethics standards.
“The panel’s myriad charges against Cherfilus-McCormick … ranged from using ineligible funds to finance her campaign to repeatedly filing false financial disclosure forms and seeking ‘special favors’ with recipients of earmark funding requests,” according to Fox News.
Rep. Scott Peters told Axios at the time that Cherfilus-McCormick’s resignation would “be easier for everyone.”
Asked if he’d vote to expel her, he added, “If someone’s misbehaved in the way she’s said to have misbehaved, I think every member of Congress, regardless of party, has to respond to that, and I think we will.”
Rep. Becca Balint said “she should resign,” but added that embattled Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales “must be pushed by Republicans to resign, too.”
Even “progressive” Rep. Pramila Jayapal told Axios that Cherfilus-McCormick should resign, though she too pushed for Gonzales’ resignation as well.
You can’t crime your way into legitimate power.
Since she was found guilty, she should resign or be removed.#ethics https://t.co/cgQuhplhzF
— Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (@RepMGP) March 27, 2026
Cherfilus-McCormick has, for her part, long maintained her innocence despite the abundance of evidence against her.
“I reject these allegations and remain confident the full facts will make clear I did nothing wrong,” she said in January. “Until then, my focus remains where it belongs: delivering for my constituents and continuing the work they sent me to Washington to do,” she added.
She once even tried to play the race card:
🚨BREAKING: Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) says the only reason she has been indicted is because she’s black..
She was caught stealing $5 million in FEMA money.. 👀
Do you support this?
YES or NO?
IF Yes, Give me a THUMBS-UP👍! pic.twitter.com/1dKF1mPgk1
— Right Scope 🇺🇸 (@RightScopee) January 11, 2026
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V. Saxena is a staff writer with a decade of experience as a professional writer, and a lifetime of experience as an avid news junkie. He holds a degree in computer technology from Purdue University. Saxena also contributes to BizPac Review.
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