Noem Blasted for Failures at FEMA

FEMA Must Become Independent Cabinet-Level Agency to End Vulnerability During DHS Shutdown

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem faced a blistering confrontation with Senator Thom Tillis (R) during today's congressional testimony, exposing exactly why the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) cannot remain under DHS control. Tillis's pointed questioning laid bare Noem's failures at FEMA and the catastrophic vulnerability created by keeping the nation's disaster response agency hostage to DHS shutdowns and political chaos.

In response, Sabotaging Our Safety Advisory Council Member Devante Lewis released the following statement:

"Noem’s testimony today proves exactly what we've been demanding: FEMA must be removed from DHS and established as an independent cabinet-level agency. You cannot protect communities from disasters while keeping the nation's emergency management agency under such overtly political and incompetent control. Noem has spent her tenure politicizing disaster response, retaliating against career staffers who speak out, and gutting the workforce that saves lives and rebuilds communities.

"The Trump administration's plan to dismantle FEMA is a death sentence for communities that will face the next disaster without adequate federal support. Congress must act immediately to protect FEMA from Noem's mismanagement by making it an independent agency with the resources and authority it needs to do its job."

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