Kristi Noem, head of the Department of Homeland Security, faces growing calls for her resignation amid controversies over a fatal shooting and FEMA's disaster response. Lawmakers from both parties and disaster experts criticize her policies for delaying aid and slowing recovery efforts. Recent fund releases appear aimed at addressing the backlash.
Kristi Noem's leadership of the Department of Homeland Security has drawn sharp scrutiny, particularly following the January 24 fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old nurse, by a federal immigration agent during protests in Minneapolis. Noem labeled Pretti a "domestic terrorist," but videos quickly surfaced showing he was unarmed and restrained at the time of the shooting. This incident, coming two weeks after another fatal shooting of protester Renee Good in the same city, has fueled demands for accountability.
Republican Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina stated, "She should be out of a job," after the videos emerged. While President Donald Trump has affirmed Noem's position, potential replacements like Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin and EPA head Lee Zeldin have been mentioned.
Broader concerns center on Noem's management of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Critics, including lawmakers, disaster experts, and survivors, argue her policies have hampered emergency responses and funding. Noem required personal approval for all expenses over $100,000, drastically slowing disbursements. This approach reportedly delayed aid during July's Texas Hill Country floods, where over 130 people died; the acting FEMA head, David Richardson, was unreachable for hours, and the hotline answered only one-third of calls.
A coalition of disaster survivors issued a report card giving Noem an "F." Brandy Gerstner, who lost her home in the Texas floods, said, "Official help was scarce," and accused Noem and Texas Governor Greg Abbott of falsely claiming an exceptional response.
FEMA's reimbursement backlog has swelled to $17 billion, exceeding a typical year's spending. Spending on resilience grants has declined over the past three quarters, with a $1.3 billion backlog identified by NOTUS. The agency terminated a climate resilience program, though a court mandated its reinstatement.
Former FEMA chief of staff Michael Coen Jr. described Noem's oversight as micromanagement, suggesting a new leader would avoid such reviews. FEMA lacks a permanent administrator, with Karen Evans acting since Richardson's November departure, and plans to fire over 11,000 employees have been proposed.
In response to criticism, Noem paused terminations, held her first in-person employee briefing ahead of Winter Storm Fern, and announced $2.2 billion in reimbursements for events like Hurricane Helene, 2023 Vermont floods, and Louisiana coastal erosion. However, recipients noted the funds followed standard procedures, and the press release contained errors, such as misspelling "Louisiana" as "Louisianna" and "Greeneville."
Vermont transportation secretary Joe Flynn welcomed a $22 million payment but said it fell short of requests, adding, "an adequately granted award is a bird in the hand." Laura White of the Greeneville Water Commission pointed out the town's name was misspelled, saying, "they spelled Greeneville wrong!"
Sarah Labowitz of the Carnegie Endowment warned of unresolved issues ahead of hurricane season, regardless of Noem's status.
