President Donald Trump’s nominee to head the Department of Homeland Security offered a softer approach on Federal Emergency Management at his Senate confirmation hearing, rejecting the idea Eliminate FEMA He pledged to undo some of his predecessor’s unpopular policies.
Statements by Markwayne Mullen Wednesday raised hopes among disaster response managers for a shift in the administration’s approach to the Federal Emergency Management Agency after months of turmoil under outgoing Secretary Kristi Noem.
But despite his mostly conciliatory statements on federal disaster response, it remains to be seen what reforms Mullen will actually support, or how he will lead them if confirmed. Mullen is loyal to Trump, whose messaging to FEMA has been inconsistent.
“It’s a great job, and I think the people at FEMA want to do their job,” Mullen told fellow Sen. James Lankford on Wednesday in his speech. Confirmation hearing To replace Noem. Mullen said he supports reforms to the agency to make it more effective, speed up payments to state and local jurisdictions and better serve rural communities.
Trump has repeatedly floated the idea Phasing out the agency Shifting more disaster responsibilities to states. Mullen’s comments came less than a year after then-acting head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency Cameron Hamilton has been sent off After a House committee hearing where he said the agency should not be abolished.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been mired in turmoil and uncertainty throughout Noem’s tenure at DHS Staff reductions, Program discounts and delays in disaster declarations and spending.
The release of an upcoming report from a Trump-appointed FEMA review board that aims to outline recommendations for reforming the agency is crucial. Months latekeeping states and other stakeholders in a state of suspense about the extent to which they will be able to rely on federal disaster support in the future.
Former FEMA officials expressed hope that Mullen’s comments would represent a change from the turmoil the agency has seen under Noem, and open the door to serious reforms to streamline the agency.
“He recognizes the importance of FEMA, and while there is certainly room for improvement, he recognizes that the partnership with FEMA is essential,” said Deane Criswell, FEMA administrator under President Joe Biden.
Pete Gaynor, administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency during Trump’s first term, said Mullen’s comments represent an “impressive and meaningful first step forward.”
In his conversations with Lankford and Democratic Senator Andy Kim of New Jersey, Mullen emphasized that disaster response must be locally led with FEMA playing a supporting role, an approach already laid out in the agency’s mission, and that reforms are needed to accelerate payments to disaster-affected communities.
“Taking years to get compensation is unacceptable,” Mullen said. “Frankly, taking months to get compensation is unacceptable.”
After coming under pressure from Kim on specific policies, Mullen said he would rescind Noem’s directive that she must personally approve expenditures of more than $100,000, a rule that has angered lawmakers from both parties who say it jeopardizes disaster response and recovery.
“I’m not a micromanager,” Mullen said, also telling Kim that he was already looking for potential candidates for the permanent FEMA director position. Trump has not yet nominated a permanent director for FEMA and the agency is under its third interim leader.
While Mullen told Kim that the agency would have “adequate staffing” to respond to the nation’s disasters, he stopped short of saying whether he thought FEMA had too many staff.
Mullen also committed to working with lawmakers on potential reforms to FEMA after Kim complained that Noem did not engage senators as co-chair of the FEMA review board. Mullen pledged “better” communication with lawmakers, acknowledging that FEMA’s reforms could not happen without them.
“I’m pretty sure you guys set the policies and the mission for FEMA, so to make any serious changes, it would take actual policy changes,” he told Kim. FEMA’s mission and responsibilities are defined in the Stafford Act of 1988 and subsequent laws, and many changes to its operations require legislative action.
Amanda Devica-Reiner, executive director of the New Jersey Organizing Project, which advocates for Hurricane Sandy survivors, said she wanted to wait to see Mullen’s words put into practice.
“Disaster survivors have been misled by empty rhetoric before, and we will be watching closely if the Senate confirms Senator Mullen to see if his actions match his words,” Devika-Reiner said.
It’s not clear whether Mullen will embrace some of the reform ideas put forth by Trump, Noem and the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s review board, such as giving states block grants instead of reimbursement and revising the thresholds states and local communities must meet to qualify for a major disaster declaration.
Disaster experts and some local stakeholders have warned that these changes could mean less money for states, tribes and territories. States will have to make budget trade-offs to adapt to any reduction in federal support, and they need time to make those adjustments, Peter Mueller, a senior official at The Pew Charitable Trusts, said at a meeting of state emergency managers last week.
Mullen also did not directly commit to bringing back FEMA employees who were out Put on leave After signing in August General opposition speech They said opposition to the policies weakened the agency, but told Kim that retaliation against whistleblowers was against the law.
“I will work within the law and my requirements as secretary,” he said.