Senate Hearing Shows Mullin Breaking From Noem on FEMA Spending Controls and Agency’s Future
At a Senate hearing, DHS secretary nominee Mullin laid out a different vision than predecessor Kristi Noem, defending FEMA’s "great mission," saying staff "want to do their job," and stressing that disaster response must be "locally led" with FEMA in a supporting role. His remarks — coming amid turmoil under Noem marked by staff reductions, program cuts, delayed disaster declarations and a months-overdue Trump-appointed FEMA Review Council overhaul report — drew cautious praise from former FEMA administrators Deanne Criswell and Pete Gaynor as an "impressive and meaningful first step forward."
📌 Key Facts
- As DHS secretary nominee, Mullin presented a different vision for FEMA than predecessor Kristi Noem, defending FEMA’s “great mission” and saying FEMA staff “want to do their job.”
- Mullin emphasized that disaster response must be “locally led,” with FEMA serving in a supporting role consistent with the agency’s stated doctrine.
- PBS reports ongoing turmoil at FEMA under Noem, including staff reductions, program cuts, and delays in disaster declarations and federal spending.
- The Trump-appointed FEMA Review Council’s overhaul report is months overdue, creating uncertainty for states about future federal disaster support.
- Former FEMA administrators Deanne Criswell and Pete Gaynor praised Mullin, saying he “gets the importance of FEMA” and calling his remarks an “impressive and meaningful first step forward.”
📊 Relevant Data
Counties with a higher percentage of Black residents receive less FEMA disaster assistance funding, with every one-unit increase in the Black population percentage decreasing assistance by about 1.4%.
Diverging equity implications of FEMA disaster aid received by counties — ScienceDirect
Rural communities of color are overrepresented among Community Disaster Resilience Zones (CDRZs) compared to the national rural population, indicating higher vulnerability to disasters in these areas.
Rural Communities of Color Are Overrepresented among Community Disaster Resilience Zones — Urban Institute
FEMA is planning significant workforce reductions in 2026, including a 15% cut to permanent full-time staff and a 41% cut to disaster response staff, which could impact agency capacity.
FEMA planning exercise envisioned deep workforce cuts, adding to uncertainty — CNN
Racial disparities in FEMA aid are exacerbated by socioeconomic factors that place marginalized groups, particularly Black individuals, in environmentally hazardous areas with lower property values, affecting aid eligibility and amounts.
Racial disparities are working against disaster recovery for people of color — CNN
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Article quotes Mullin’s broader defense of FEMA’s mission, saying it has a 'great mission' and that FEMA staff 'want to do their job.'
- Provides more detail on Mullin’s emphasis that disaster response must be 'locally led' with FEMA in a supporting role, consistent with the agency’s stated doctrine.
- Expands on the context of FEMA turmoil under Kristi Noem, including staff reductions, program cuts, and delayed disaster declarations and spending.
- Notes that the Trump-appointed FEMA Review Council’s overhaul report is months overdue, leaving states uncertain about future federal disaster support.
- Adds reactions from former FEMA administrators Deanne Criswell and Pete Gaynor, who say Mullin 'gets the importance of FEMA' and call his remarks an 'impressive and meaningful first step forward.'