As Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem vows to “eliminate FEMA,” the agency is in turmoil, with disaster assistance, grant money, and hiring largely stalled, threatening its ability to respond to major disasters, multiple FEMA officials tell the press.
Top officials from FEMA and Department of Homeland Security met Tuesday, the media has learned, to discuss the future of the disaster relief agency and their options to eliminate FEMA.
According to multiple sources present at the meeting, Noem, FEMA Acting Administrator Cameron Hamilton, and longtime Trump ally Corey Lewandowski discussed the idea of revoking President Donald Trump’s recent executive order creating a FEMA Review Council and instead opting to quickly eliminate the agency.
It’s the latest in a series of actions and attacks to eliminate FEMA that have stalled the agency’s work and raised concerns about its ability to respond to hurricane season, which is just weeks away.
“March is typically when we’re finalizing hurricane plans. A lot of that got paused,” a FEMA official, who works directly on disaster response, told CNN. “So, it’s already having an impact, which is that we’re not preparing.”
Last week, FEMA employees received an email titled “Hiring Update,” which outlined a new process, effective immediately, requiring that the majority of the agency’s workers, many of whom hold 2-to-4-year term positions, be directly approved by Secretary Noem’s team in order to be renewed for another term.
The memo obtained by the media connecting it to Executive Order 14210, lists the roles essential for providing assistance to communities during disaster response and recovery. These positions have various responsibilities, including assessing disaster damage, managing recovery centers, and assisting victims in registering for aid.
“It’s practically everybody that goes out in the field,” a FEMA official said. “They are the backbone of the response, particularly in sustaining operations.”
The impacted positions, according to the memo, include the Cadre of On-Call Response Employees (CORE), Reservists, Local Hires, and Temporary Fulltime Employees.
CORE and Reservist employees make up roughly 74% of FEMA’s workforce, according to a report from the Government Accountability Office.
“I think their terms will be allowed to expire, and they won’t be renewed,” another FEMA official leaked to the media. “I don’t know that it will really be felt until something big and bad happens. And I think the really scary thing is that states are now afraid to complain, because they’re afraid of what the fallout will be.”
A FEMA official stated that instead of getting ready for hurricane season, they have been preoccupied with verifying workers’ renewal dates and developing justifications for their roles.
“It’s now a fear of, what else?” the official said. “Are we able to get back to work and focus? Our feeling is, no, there will be something else that will pop up that’s going to require a lot of our attention.”
Frozen Funds
A source familiar with the situation has reported that FEMA is currently withholding over $100 billion in grant money and disaster assistance that had been previously awarded. Agency staff are waiting for instructions on how to distribute payments in compliance with Trump’s executive orders that limit funding for immigration programs and sanctuary cities.
FEMA officials received the necessary guidance on Tuesday, which is expected to resume the flow of funds, according to several sources. However, there remains uncertainty about the timeline for making payments and concerns about the disruption in funding persist among officials who spoke anonymously to the media.
The majority of FEMA payments, excluding individual disaster assistance, have been halted, impacting states, localities, and nonprofits awaiting reimbursement. This includes organizations such as fire departments that often receive federal grants for equipment and staffing, as well as disaster recovery funds for Hurricane Helene and California wildfires.
In February, the Department of Homeland Security accused four FEMA employees, including the chief financial officer, of bypassing leadership by approving $80 million in federal grant payments to New York City for migrant sheltering. As a result, all four employees were fired and the funds were promptly recovered by DHS.
A DHS spokesperson informed the media that the terminated employees had “in effect laundered the prohibited funds” and had intentionally concealed this information from legal advisors in order to manipulate the funding process and challenge the Secretary’s directive. Court records indicate that the payments were erroneously made due to FEMA’s misinterpretation that they were permissible.
The incident has had a chilling effect on FEMA workers, multiple sources have told CNN. Several have voiced fear that a misconstrued payment could cost them their job.
The Trump Administration has already imposed a hiring freeze at FEMA.
Earlier this month, an email was sent by FEMA Acting Administrator Cameron Hamilton to agency staff to announce that he had submitted a plan to Secretary Noem to reduce FEMA’s workforce.
“The plan provides a general strategy to decrease the agency’s staffing levels by consolidating similar functions while prioritizing the ability to fulfill our mission. It also evaluates our geographic presence and adjusts the roles of federal and state entities in disaster preparedness, response, and recovery,” stated Hamilton in the email obtained by the media. “The plan allows for crucial decision-making by President Trump’s FEMA Review Council to implement lasting changes for the agency’s future.”
Repeated requests for comment on the reduction-in-force plan have gone unanswered by FEMA. In an email statement to the media, DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin expressed gratitude for the press’s coverage of Secretary Noem’s initiatives to eliminate FEMA waste, fraud, and abuse within the Department of Homeland Security.
In the meantime, two congressmen from different parties have proposed a bill to separate FEMA from DHS and make it a cabinet-level agency that answers directly to the President, rather than to completely eliminate FEMA.
This week, the bipartisan FEMA Independence Act was introduced by Florida Representatives Jared Moskowitz and Byron Donalds. The goal of this legislation is to reduce bureaucratic obstacles at the disaster relief agency, as it deals with a rising number of damaging natural disasters.
Who is Kristi Noem?
Kristi Lynn Arnold Noem, born on November 30, 1971, is an American politician and Air Force Reserve officer who has been serving as the 8th United States Secretary of Homeland Security since 2025. A member of the Republican Party, she previously held the position of the 33rd governor of South Dakota from 2019 to 2025 and represented South Dakota’s at-large congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2011 to 2019.
Born and raised in the small town of Watertown, South Dakota, Kristi Noem began her political career in the South Dakota House of Representatives. Her time in office from 2007 to 2011 laid the foundation for her future success in politics.
In 2018, she made history by becoming South Dakota’s first female governor, a significant achievement that propelled her into the national spotlight. Noem’s victory was further solidified by the endorsement of then-President Donald Trump, a move that showcased her alignment with conservative values.
During the challenging period of the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Noem gained widespread attention for her unique approach to handling the crisis. Unlike many other state leaders, she took a firm stand against implementing mandatory mask mandates, opting instead to focus on voluntary guidelines and trusting her state’s residents to make responsible choices. This decision sparked debate and controversy, with supporters applauding her commitment to individual freedom while critics voiced concerns about public health and safety.
Beyond her position on pandemic policies, Kristi Noem is known for her strong opinions on various issues, including gun rights. As a staunch advocate for Second Amendment rights, she has actively supported measures to protect and expand these fundamental freedoms. Her unwavering dedication to conservative principles has earned her a loyal following among like-minded individuals across the country.
Despite the demands of her gubernatorial responsibilities, Governor Noem has stayed connected to her roots by maintaining her family’s ranch in South Dakota. This deep connection to her home state informs her decision-making and enables her to stay grounded amidst the pressures of political life. By balancing her roles as a public servant and a private citizen, Kristi Noem exemplifies the values of hard work, dedication, and resilience that have defined her journey in politics.
In addition to politics, Noem is a farmer and rancher. She has published two autobiographies, Not My First Rodeo: Lessons from the Heartland (2022) and No Going Back (2024), which sparked controversy for its account of her killing a young family dog and inaccurate claims about meeting with foreign leaders. Donald Trump nominated her for Secretary of Homeland Security in his second cabinet. She was confirmed in January 2025 by a Senate vote of 59–34.
Is Kristi Noem fit to serve as DHS Secretary?
President-elect Trump appointed Kristi Noem to be his Secretary of Homeland Security for his second term on November 12, 2024. The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs conducted a confirmation hearing for her on January 17, 2025. With a vote of 13-2 on January 20, the committee approved her nomination. Consequently, on January 25, the Senate confirmed Noem with a 59-34 vote, with the support of seven Democrats. Currently, Noem is on a mission, as commanded by President Trump, to eliminate FEMA.
COVID-19
During the COVID-19 pandemic in South Dakota, Governor Noem’s response garnered attention for its unique approach compared to other states. Initially considering containment strategies, she later shifted to a more hands-off approach, diverging from the typical lockdowns and mask mandates implemented elsewhere.
In November 2020, amidst a spike in cases, she made an unconventional decision to utilize pandemic relief funds to boost tourism in the state, a move that sparked debate among public health officials and the general public.
Governor Noem’s skepticism about the effectiveness of masks and her reluctance to impose face mask mandates set her apart from many other governors. She preferred to focus on individual responsibility rather than enforce strict regulations, a stance that aligned with former President Trump’s approach to the pandemic. Her decisions, or lack thereof, regarding social distancing measures and large gatherings without precautions were met with criticism from health experts who argued that such actions could exacerbate the spread of the virus.
One of the defining moments of Governor Noem’s handling of the pandemic was her prominent speech at the Republican National Convention in August 2020. This platform not only elevated her national profile but also solidified her position as a key figure in the Republican Party. However, her involvement in events such as the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, which was later linked to a significant increase in COVID-19 cases, raised further questions about the effectiveness of her approach.
As the pandemic progressed and vaccines became available, Governor Noem faced scrutiny for her stance on vaccination requirements and liability protections. Despite mounting criticism and the continued challenges posed by the pandemic, she remained steadfast in her belief in personal freedoms and individual responsibility. Governor Noem’s refusal to impose statewide stay-at-home orders or mask mandates, even as South Dakota grappled with rising infections and hospitalizations, highlighted her commitment to a more hands-off approach to governance during a public health crisis.
In July 2021, Noem criticized other Republican governors for enacting mandatory measures against COVID-19 and trying to “rewrite history” about it. She argued that South Dakota had effectively combated the pandemic by instead testing and isolating cases. South Dakota had the 10th-highest death rate and third-highest case rate at that time
Fireworks at Mount Rushmore lawsuit (2021)
In 2021, Noem sued U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, seeking to have fireworks at Mount Rushmore for Independence Day. Fireworks displays had been halted at the site in 2009 by the National Park Service due to fire risks and other reasons. Noem hired the private Washington D.C. law firm Consovoy McCarthy to bring the case, with South Dakota state taxpayer money paying for the suit. The U.S. District Court dismissed the suit, with Judge Roberto Lange finding that four of the five reasons given by the NPS and Secretary Haaland were valid. On July 13, Noem filed an appeal with the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals. On March 14, 2022, the National Park Service again denied Noem’s application for a permit to have fireworks at Mount Rushmore for the 4th of July, citing opposition from Native American groups and the possibility of wildfires.
Guns
In 2019, Noem signed a bill into law abolishing South Dakota’s permit requirement to carry a concealed handgun. In 2022, she sought to build a gun range in Meade County with government funds, but the legislature rejected it. At a 2023 NRA forum in Indiana, Noem said that her two-year-old granddaughter had free access to a shotgun, a rifle, and a “little pony named Sparkles.”
Conclusion
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s recent declaration to “eliminate FEMA” has sent shockwaves through the agency, causing chaos and uncertainty among its officials. The repercussions of this decision are already being felt, with disaster assistance, grant funding, and hiring processes grinding to a halt. The agency, once known for its swift response and aid in times of crisis, is now struggling to keep up with the demands of major disasters and emergencies.
The impact of this turmoil within FEMA extends far beyond its internal operations. The ability of the agency to effectively respond to future disasters is now in question, as critical resources and personnel are left in limbo. Disasters such as hurricanes, wildfires, and floods require a well-equipped and well-funded agency like FEMA to provide timely and effective assistance to those in need. Without proper support and resources, FEMA’s ability to fulfill its mandate of protecting and assisting the public during emergencies is seriously compromised.
As the uncertainty surrounding FEMA’s future continues to loom, the importance of maintaining a strong and functional emergency response agency cannot be overstated. The consequences of severely curtailing FEMA’s operations or to eliminate FEMA altogether, could be dire, leaving countless communities vulnerable and without the crucial aid they need in times of crisis. It is essential that policymakers and stakeholders recognize the vital role that FEMA plays in our nation’s disaster response efforts and take the necessary steps to ensure its continued effectiveness and resilience.
Lee Ho