Republican lawmakers unloaded on Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem for slow-walking billions of dollars in disaster aid.
President Donald Trump's choice to lead DHS has frustrated GOP lawmakers whose states need help rebuilding after hurricanes and other natural disasters because Noem has insisted on reviewing and approving any expense over $100,000, and that has significantly slowed down Federal Emergency Management Agency's process for distributing disaster aid, reported NOTUS.
“You would think a former member of Congress would have more f------ respect for the institution she used to serve in,” said one Republican lawmaker. “She’s causing a lot of problems.”
Members of Congress and their aides frequently hear about contracts stalling out at DHS, and they complained that Noem's office is unresponsive to their concerns.
“They’re very slow,” said one senior Senate GOP aide. “Getting the secretary on the phone is basically impossible.”
It's even more difficult getting Noem to attend routine congressional hearings, lawmakers said.
“The view among Republicans on the Hill is Secretary Noem is less interested in doing the blocking and tackling of her day job than she is with promoting herself in taxpayer-funded TV commercials,” a senior GOP aide told NOTUS.
Sen. Ted Budd (R-NC) has placed a hold on all DHS nominees to protest FEMA's slow walk of billions in aid to his state to rebuild after Hurricane Helene, but he remains hopeful after taking his concerns to the Trump administration.
“I’m concerned that Western North Carolina gets the support that it needs,” Budd said. “I am in communication with the secretary and have great hopes that this will be resolved.”
A DHS spokesperson blamed Noem's predecessor, Alejandro Mayorkas, for the delay in responding to some congressional inquiries and attacked lawmakers who have voiced concerns about the issue.
“Who are these members complaining? Democrats who shut down the government?” the DHS spokesperson said in a statement.
A White House official praised Noem's “tremendous results,” saying DHS had delivered “a historically secure border, safer American communities, and successful deportations of criminal illegal aliens," and at least one GOP lawmaker offered an excuse for the chaos that lawmakers have noticed.
“The department is going in multiple different directions,” that GOP lawmaker said. “Nobody wants to f--- up or lose their job. So they’re being overly cautious and slow with everything.”