Homeland Security Secretary Christie Noem has rejected allegations that there were delays in deploying resources to Texas.
During an interview on NBC News’ “Meet the Press,” Noem acknowledged the introduction of new rules but emphasized that assistance was mobilized quickly following the floods.
“These assertions are completely incorrect. Within just one or two hours of the flooding, resources from the Department of Homeland Security were on the ground in Texas to assist people. It was a tragic situation. I think the Coast Guard responded swiftly and helped many individuals escape the floods,” she told Kristen Welker of NBC News.
“So, those claims are false,” she added. “They come from individuals who aren’t willing to put their names to them. The call centers have been fully staffed and responsive. I truly believe that FEMA’s response has been the most effective we’ve seen in similar situations over the years.”
Noem clarified that her new policy aimed to ensure accountability for contracts but insisted that “there were no fragments of the contract” and that resources were deployed without delay.
“These contracts were approved promptly as soon as they were presented to me, and FEMA was aware of the timeline once local officials made their requests,” she explained.
Noem dismissed Welker’s suggestion that her new regulations could lead to “extra deficits.”
“It’s not about extra deficits. I’m ensuring everything is managed at my level and addressed immediately. There was no delay at all. In fact, the response was notably quicker. If you recall, I was there,” she said.
“Inaccurate reporting is unacceptable, and we need to address that. This response from the federal government has been the best we’ve observed in recent years, far surpassing what we experienced under Joe Biden.”
