Noem Urges FEMA Elimination Citing Katrina Claims, Biden Administration Failures Amid Congressional Scrutiny

During a congressional hearing, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) should be eliminated in its current form, citing unresolved claims from Hurricane Katrina dating back to 2005 and unpaid fire claims that are several years old. Noem attributed these ongoing issues to failures under the Biden administration and referenced former President Donald Trump's belief that FEMA has failed the American people, advocating for empowering states to handle disaster responses instead. Representative Rosa DeLauro challenged Noem, questioning the evidence of FEMA's failure and accusing the federal government of abdicating its responsibility to the public. Additionally, Representative Tony Gonzales acknowledged that while no decisions have been made regarding state reimbursements, many governors have requested such support, highlighting ongoing discussions about disaster relief funding.