National Security & Defense

Eugene

(65,697 posts) Thu Jul 10, 2025, 06:33 AM Thursday

After Texas floods, questions about FEMA's future loom large

Source: NBC News

After Texas floods, questions about FEMA's future loom large

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has been exerting more direct control over the agency, which President Donald Trump has talked about "getting rid of."

July 9, 2025, 4:27 PM EDT
By Laura Strickler, Monica Alba, Jonathan Allen and Julia Ainsley

The devastating Texas flooding that has killed nearly 120 people is the first high-profile disaster the Federal Emergency Management Agency has faced during the current Trump administration. But while the loss of life has been catastrophic, former and current FEMA officials told NBC News that the relatively small geographic area affected means it’s not a true test of what the agency, whose full-time staff has been shrunk by a third, is capable of doing in the wake of a disaster.

The real tryout could come later this summer, they say, when there is always the threat that a hurricane could hit several states.

As the agency’s future is debated — President Donald Trump has talked about possibly “getting rid of” it — Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who oversees it, has tightened her grip.

Noem now requires that all agency spending over $100,000 be personally approved by her, according to current and former FEMA officials. To prevent delays on the ground, on Monday FEMA officials created a task force to speed up the process of getting Noem’s approval, according to two people familiar with that unit.

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Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/texas-floods-questions-femas-future-loom-large-rcna217711

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After Texas floods, questions about FEMA's future loom large (Original Post) Eugene Thursday OP

Kristi Noem waited 3 days to deploy FEMA rescuers after Texas flood hit: report LetMyPeopleVote Thursday #1

LetMyPeopleVote

(166,210 posts)

1. Kristi Noem waited 3 days to deploy FEMA rescuers after Texas flood hit: report

Reply to Eugene (Original post)

Thu Jul 10, 2025, 09:40 AM

Thursday

People died due to this idiot

Kristi Noem waited 3 days to deploy FEMA rescuers after Texas flood hit: report https://twp.ai/4io76a
— #TuckFrump (@realtuckfrumper.bsky.social) 2025-07-09T22:52:24.000Z

https://www.rawstory.com/kristi-noem-texas-2673042686/

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem did not authorize the deployment of Federal Emergency Management Agency urban search-and-rescue teams in the Texas Hill Country flood disaster until more than 72 hours after the crisis began, CNN reported on Wednesday.

This follows rule changes that Noem imposed at her department that required a personal sign-off on any operation with an expense over $100,000, a figure so tiny it practically applies to any response to a significant emergency.

"In the past, FEMA would have swiftly staged these teams, which are specifically trained for situations including catastrophic floods, closer to a disaster zone in anticipation of urgent requests, multiple agency sources told CNN," reported Gabe Cohen and Michael Williams. However, "even as Texas rescue crews raced to save lives, FEMA officials realized they needed Noem’s approval before sending those additional assets."

"Noem didn’t authorize FEMA’s deployment of Urban Search and Rescue teams until Monday, more than 72 hours after the flooding began, multiple sources told CNN," the report continued.

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