Trump Defends Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem Amid Delayed FEMA Response to Texas Floods

Strategic Insights -

President Donald Trump has defended Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem over criticism of the federal response to the deadly flash flooding in Texas, saying she has done a "great job" because she saw her get out on TV quickly to reassure the public. However, their arrival coincides with reports that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)'s response to the disaster was delayed by three days due to a new rule instigated by Secretary Noem. The secretary's order, intended to rein in excessive spending, dictated that she must personally sign off on contracts and grants worth more than $100,000, something she only did in relation to the Texas disaster on Monday, leading to delays to the relief effort.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) response to the Texas floods was delayed by three days due to a new rule instigated by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, requiring her personal sign-off on contracts and grants worth more than $100,000.
  • FEMA's acting administrator, David Richardson, has been reported as missing in action, failing to visit Texas, sparking concern about how his agency is run and whether he has effectively handed over responsibility to Secretary Noem.
  • The state of Texas deployed 1,750 personnel to address the crisis, while FEMA sent only 70, according to Secretary Noem, who insisted that the federal government does not manage natural disasters, but rather that they are the responsibility of individual states.
  • President Trump defended Secretary Noem, saying she was "on the ball" and had done a "great job" because she quickly appeared on TV to reassure the public.
  • FEMA was created to "prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate against the risk of natural disasters", but its leader, typically expected to be prominent and out in front of the cameras, failed to visit Texas.
  • Last year, Trump threatened to shut down FEMA altogether, commenting that a governor should be able to handle disaster relief.

Statistics:

  • 121 people have died in the Texas floods.
  • 173 people are still missing.
  • FEMA deployed 70 personnel to address the crisis, while the state of Texas deployed 1,750.
  • The new rule requiring Secretary Noem's personal sign-off on contracts and grants worth more than $100,000 was first used in relation to the Texas disaster on Monday.
  • The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was created to support natural disaster response and recovery efforts.

Sources:

  • NBC News, Kristen Welker (cited text)
  • MSNBC, Chris Hayes (cited text)
  • Fox and Friends (cited text)
  • CNN (cited text)
  • The Independent (cited text)
  • AP (cited images)
  • White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt (cited text)
  • President Donald Trump (cited text)