Noem Defends FEMA’s Response to Deadly Texas Floods Amid Budget Cuts
On July 13, 2025, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem defended FEMA’s emergency response to the July 4 flash floods in Texas Hill Country, which claimed over 120 lives and left around 160 missing. Noem emphasized that DHS resources were mobilized “within an hour or two” of the disaster, denying that her June memo—requiring her approval for FEMA expenditures over $100,000—caused delays.
Contract Cuts and Staffing Uncertainty
The critical memo, issued on June 11, mandated internal reviews for significant FEMA spending. Critics argue it hampered rescue deployments and slowed deployment of search-and-rescue crews—a concern compounded by the loss of 2,000 FEMA staff by mid-May.
Reports also noted thousands of emergency-assistance calls went unanswered during the crisis, as FEMA call-center contracts lapsed until July 10. Noem refuted this, describing such claims as “fake news”.
Trump’s FEMA Overhaul and Ongoing Debate
Noem echoed President Trump’s message that FEMA should be “remade”, not eliminated—part of a broader effort to shift disaster response towards more state-driven, streamlined models. Yet officials warn the agency may lack capacity to handle concurrent disasters without sufficient funding or staffing, as internal documents indicate significant federal cuts.
