Three months after President Trump fired DHS Secretary Kristi Noem amid FEMA turmoil—as detailed in prior coverage—the agency remains dysfunctional under her successor, Markwayne Mullin. Despite vows to end spending freezes, officials warn of low morale, shortages, and stalled programs as hurricane season nears. Mullin advocates shifting disaster response to states.
Noem's abrupt dismissal last month stemmed from immigration controversies, personal spending scandals, and congressional misrepresentations, including freezes that delayed billions in aid and gutted staffing plans. While some reconstruction payments have resumed under Mullin—who called Noem's approach 'micromanaging' and ousted her deputies—progress is minimal, per anonymous FEMA officials speaking to Grist. Many approvals still route through interim administrator Karen Evans.
Key programs languish: no new long-term infrastructure aid in a year; a resilience program was nearly axed but saved by court order; the National Flood Insurance Program's discounts for proactive cities are suspended due to contractor issues, pausing floodplain oversight. A regional official lamented, 'It’s like we are collectively waiting for the other shoe to drop.'
In North Carolina, Mullin said FEMA should support, not lead, state responses: 'The state is much more equipped, but we can be there to get them past the first heavy lift.' Critics, including a senior FEMA official, decry his grasp of the agency's role, echoing Noem-era critiques. Experts like Andrew Rumbach of the Urban Institute highlight that while states like Florida and Texas manage well, poorer ones like Mississippi rely on federal aid. States such as Maryland face denied reimbursements, forcing new local funds amid a Trump review pushing reduced federal involvement.
