One year after Kristi Noem was confirmed as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) under President Donald Trump, several House Democrats are urging her removal, citing concerns about management at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Representatives Greg Stanton (AZ-04), Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), and Troy Carter (LA-02) have led this call to action.
Greg Stanton serves as Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure’s Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management, which oversees FEMA. In recent election cycles, Stanton has secured his seat by defeating Kelly Cooper in both 2024 and 2022 general elections.
The lawmakers expressed their criticism in a letter to President Trump dated January 14. “Secretary Noem’s first year at the helm of DHS has been its own kind of disaster. We have witnessed unforced errors and disturbing choices, including a pattern of decisions leaving FEMA less capable of fulfilling its obligation to American disaster survivors. This year of her tenure has been marked by unnecessary challenges that have hampered every stage of our National Preparedness Goal mission areas – prevention, protection, preparedness, response and recovery. And we saw the infuriating, deadly results experienced in Texas, New Mexico, California, North Carolina, Hawaii, Kentucky, Missouri, Maryland, New Jersey, and most recently in Washington,” the lawmakers wrote.
Their letter points to draft plans that would reduce FEMA’s workforce by more than half through layoffs and nonrenewal of contracts. The representatives argue these moves undermine FEMA’s ability to respond effectively to disasters nationwide. Current and former officials from FEMA have warned that such cuts could significantly harm disaster response capabilities.
The Democratic members also referenced post-Hurricane Katrina reforms like the Post-Katrina Emergency Reform Act and the Stafford Act as being violated by proposed staff reductions. These laws were designed to protect FEMA from political interference and ensure professional emergency management practices continue.
In their message to President Trump they stated: “We urge you to immediately fire Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem. The United States cannot weather another year of her misguided leadership of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Protecting our nation when disaster strikes and supporting Americans’ recovery from personal and economic trauma is a profound responsibility. Instead, Secretary Noem has shown she is planning an illegal and systematic sabotage of FEMA’s vital work.”
They continued: “Her egregious choice to personally sign off on any spending over $100,000 is a slap in the face to families in need. During the July 4th floods, her policy prevented search and rescue from being deployed until four days after the floods began and caused FEMA’s call center contract to expire resulting in seventy percent of calls from survivors seeking aid to go unanswered.”
The letter further states: “Unfortunately, Secretary Noem has created chaos and brought troubling mismanagement back to FEMA. We condemn her latest decision to illegally subvert PKEMRA guardrails by firing FEMA employees at the end of December and her leaked plans to fire 11,500 workers – roughly half the agency’s workforce.”
It concludes with: “If your Administration cares about the nation’s emergency management system, instead of slashing FEMA’s workforce, we strongly urge you to remove Secretary Noem and install a competent professional to be in charge… Kristi Noem has proven herself no better suited for a leadership role, and we urge you to immediately remove her and submit qualified nominees to lead DHS and FEMA to the Senate as soon as possible. The American people deserve better.”
More information can be found at https://stanton.house.gov/2026/1/one-year-after-her-confirmation-reps-stanton-pallone-wasserman-schultz-carter-lead-democrats-calling-for-dhs-secretary-noem-s-removal-over-fema-mismanagement.
