I urge you to hold hearings on Secretary Kristi Noem’s handling of FEMA disaster funds. Reports show that over $11 million for a Naples, Florida pier project — stalled for months after Hurricane Ian — was suddenly “fast-tracked” after one of Noem’s campaign donors texted her for help. Within days, FEMA staff were told to “push project immediately,” and Secretary Noem flew to Naples on a government plane, toured the site, and reportedly dined with the donor.
This is not how disaster relief should work. FEMA is supposed to serve all Americans fairly, not tilt toward the connected few. Secretary Noem’s rule that every FEMA expenditure over $100,000 requires her personal signoff centralizes enormous power in her office. That bottleneck has left many states — red and blue alike — struggling to cut through red tape, while certain projects with political ties move at lightning speed. Even Republican Senator Ted Budd has spoken of being unable to get action from Noem’s office during floods in North Carolina.
Meanwhile, Secretary Noem has forced out FEMA leadership who disagreed with her agenda, and she has publicly flirted with “getting rid of FEMA as it exists today.” The result is chaos: centralized control at the top, stalled projects for ordinary communities, and sudden special treatment when donors step in. DHS has offered weak defenses but has not explained away the documented texts, emails, and interventions.
Congress must act. Hold hearings. Subpoena the communications. Demand accountability. If disaster funds are being used as political favors, that betrays every taxpayer and every community waiting for relief. And if FEMA’s rules now allow one person to play gatekeeper, then it’s your responsibility to fix it.
The American people deserve disaster relief that is fair, fast, and free of favoritism. Please make sure Secretary Noem answers under oath so we can restore trust in FEMA.
First sent on September 28 by Coleman
