Homeland Security Chief Kristi Noem said on Sunday that FEMA will be "remade" but not eradicated.
In response to media questions, Noem said reports that that FEMA answered only a fraction of disaster assistance calls regarding the deadly Texas floods were "fake" and said all assets were deployed in a timely manner and in consultation with local and state officials. She also said the Federal Emergency Management Agency would not be eradicated and that, despite his statements, President Donald Trump recognizes its value.
"The president recognizes that FEMA should not exist the way that it always has been. It needs to be redeployed in a new way, and that's what we did during this response," Noem said. When pressed, she added, "I think he wants it to be remade so that it's an agency that is new in how it deploys and supports states."