Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem staunchly defended the federal disaster response to historic flash floods in Central Texas, at the Turning Point USA (TPUSA) Student Action Summit this week.
With over 120 lives lost and more than 160 people still missing, Noem faced mounting criticism that her department’s centralized contracting policy delayed the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)’s on-the-ground aid.
Newsweek contacted FEMA for comment via email on Sunday outside of usual working hours.
Why It Matters
Noem’s tenure marks a pivotal shift in U.S. disaster management policy, favoring state-led responses over a centralized FEMA approach.
Critics argue that this centralized approval policy, requiring that her office sign off on contracts exceeding $100,000, contributed to a 72-hour delay in some rescue operations, according to reporting by CNN and The Washington Post, which cited unnamed current and former FEMA officials, as reported by Newsweek.
Former FEMA insiders reportedly expressed frustration over the additional bureaucracy created by Noem’s new approval requirement, saying that frontline rescue teams were stalled until she gave the green light, as reported by New York Magazine.
#ResignNoem trended after CNN’s story, as groups like Republicans Against Trump demanded she step down for the 72-hour delay, as reported by The Economic Times.
On Fox & Friends, Noem laughed off the CNN report, calling it “fake news” and “absolutely trash,” claiming that federal assets were deployed promptly and efficiently.
The DHS said Noem did not need to initially authorize additional FEMA resources because the department used other DHS search and rescue assets.
What to Know
Disaster hit Texas on July 4th when the Guadalupe River overflowed, resulting in deadly flash floods. Noem and the government were widely criticized for what was seen by some as a delayed reaction to the crisis.
While acknowledging the devastating impact of the floods, Noem defended her agency’s early involvement, highlighting the swift deployment of Coast Guard, Border Patrol, and BORTAC [Border Patrol Tactical Unit].
“I’m also very proud of the fact that I have the super advisory authority over the U.S. Coast Guard,” Noem said at TPUSA. “Aren’t you proud about what the U.S. Coast Guard just did in Texas to help those individuals?
“Texas just went through an incredibly incredible tragedy with the flooding event that happened and is still looking for their loved ones, and for children and have been absolutely devastated,” Noem continued, “and the individuals who showed up there from the Coast Guard, from Border Patrol, those individuals from the BORTAC teams, from FEMA that showed up immediately and supported that state in its response to its individuals. “
Noem, appearing confident at the TPUSA event, asserted that her department responded immediately to every request and made federal resources available as soon as possible.
“I’m so proud of them because for the very first time, we acted in a way that disaster response should, you know,” Noem said. “The way statute lays out is that every emergency that happens in this country should be locally executed. That means the people that are closest to that emergency need to be the ones making the decisions to respond to people. It should be state-managed, which means the state makes the decisions on how they’re going to universally handle this disaster.
“And the federal government, our role should be to support,” she added. “We should be there to support. We shouldn’t be making the decisions. We should be sending the support that is necessary to get that state through that situation. And that’s exactly how we implemented it in Texas and are continuing to do so to support Texas as it gets through this.”
Several Democrats in Congress have called for an investigation into Noem’s handling of the floods, with Representative Jared Moskowitz urging scrutiny over FEMA’s slowed response, as reported by Newsweek.
Despite this, Noem has doubled down on her stance, reiterating her wider vision to dismantle FEMA as currently structured and replace it with a leaner, state-empowering model, as reported by Reuters.
President Donald Trump has pledged to scrap the federal agency in charge of disaster relief and return disaster response to the states. Experts have warned that dismantling the agency completely would leave gaps in crucial services and funding.
What People Are Saying
Jared Moskowitz, in a letter to the top lawmakers on the House Committee on Homeland Security and the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, on Thursday: “As a former Emergency Management Director of Florida, I am alarmed by reports that the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) response to the Texas floods was delayed and hampered by a new Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ‘cost-control’ policy imposed by Secretary Kristi Noem,”
“If accurate, this represents a major deviation from long-standing FEMA protocol that may have slowed down lifesaving efforts and contributed to the tragedy’s severity.”
What Happens Next
Debate is intensifying in Washington over the future of federal disaster response. Supporters view Noem’s reforms as a necessary step toward more agile, local empowerment. Critics, however, warn the changes risk undermining a federal safety net at a time when climate-driven catastrophes are becoming more common.
Further congressional hearings and investigations appear likely, particularly as lawmakers question whether structural reforms should override FEMA’s established crisis-response authority. As recovery efforts continue in Texas, all eyes will be on whether emergency response can be both swift and state-controlled, or if the traditional federal apparatus must remain intact.
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