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Senators seek assurance Noem will deliver disaster aid without political bias; she pledges equal treatment
Summary
Senators pressed Kristi Noem on FEMA disaster response and on whether political bias would affect distribution of federal disaster relief. Noem pledged she would not allow political bias to influence aid and said FEMA should issue clearer blueprints for response coordination.
Senators from both parties questioned Kristi Noem about FEMA and disaster relief after recent high-cost wildfire and flooding events. Senator Blumenthal and others raised concerns about past administrations withholding disaster funds and asked whether the nominee would stand up to any president who sought to withhold aid for political reasons. Noem replied, "Under my leadership at the Department of Homeland Security, there will be no political bias to how disaster relief is delivered to the American people."
Lawmakers also discussed FEMA's readiness and communication protocols in past responses. Noem said FEMA could improve by providing pre-deployed blueprints and clearer communication channels among federal, state and local entities, so that resources and roles are pre-positioned and local responders understand how to integrate federal assistance. She cited past work coordinating floods, tornadoes and pandemic responses as experience informing those proposals.
Senators sought commitments to open records and to transparency about FEMA spending and decisions. Noem said she would deliver programs "according to the law and that it will be done with no political bias" and to work with the committee to provide oversight information.
