Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is backing off a statement she made in March about eliminating the Federal Emergency Management Agency, saying instead that the Trump administration is “reorienting” the agency.
“Under President Trump’s leadership, we are reorienting the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s responsibilities and [eliminating] the dysfunction of the current agency as it exists today,” Noem said in written testimony for a Tuesday hearing of a House Appropriations subcommittee. “This alignment seeks to empower State and local jurisdictions and individuals to engage more actively in national resilience and preparedness.”
At a televised Cabinet meeting in late March led by President Donald Trump, Noem made the seemingly impromptu comment, “We are eliminating FEMA.” She did not elaborate at the meeting or afterward, leaving many people including FEMA staffers confused.
Trump has criticized FEMA and created a council led by Noem and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to review FEMA and suggest changes to the agency.
