Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem struck back at CNN on Thursday after it accused her of slowing the process of responding to the Texas flood.
CNN reported in its article, “FEMA’s response to Texas slowed by Noem’s cost controls,” that the DHS secretary’s new policies aimed at cutting spending delayed the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) ability to respond to the disaster in Central Texas. Noem said on “Fox & Friends” that this accusation is “fake news” and “absolutely trash,” arguing that her agency responded “immediately” after the flood devastated the area.
“Well, there you go, fake news CNN again. It’s absolutely trash what they are doing by saying that. Because our Coast Guard, our Border Patrol and our tact teams were there immediately. Every single thing they asked for, we were there. The governor and the Emergency Management Director Nim Kidd were fantastic and nobody there has said anything about [that] they didn’t get everything that they wanted immediately or that they needed and I’m proud of the work that we have done … The fact that CNN is continuing to be political and push out fake information and false information and lies is not shocking, but it’s a disservice to the country.”
“It’s a real disservice to the country because people start to mistrust anything that comes out then over the news. But they just don’t trust anybody anymore,” Noem continued.
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A CNN spokesperson told the Daily Caller News Foundation that the network stands by its reporting.
Noem ordered that every FEMA contract and grant worth that exceeds $100,000 must cross her desk for approval, CNN reported in June. The latest reporting by the outlet insinuated that this rule “stripped [FEMA] of much of its autonomy” during the flood, which raged across at least six counties and killed over 120 people in the early hours of July 4.
A DHS spokesperson told CNN that Noem did not need to authorize additional FEMA resources because the department used other DHS search and rescue assets.
“FEMA is shifting from bloated, DC-centric dead weight to a lean, deployable disaster force that empowers state actors to provide relief for their citizens,” McLaughlin said. “The old processes are being replaced because they failed Americans in real emergencies for decades.”
The department said in a press release that FEMA had been activated in Texas on Sunday and that the U.S. Coast Guard was “working around the clock” to search for and rescue victims.
“We are currently deploying federal emergency management resources to Texas first responders, and will work closely with state and local authorities to ensure the people of Texas get the support they need as search efforts continue and recovery begins,” Noem said. “Pray for the victims, the families, and our first responders. God bless Texas.”
President Donald Trump signed a disaster declaration on Sunday to authorize federal relief and recovery assistance in the area, which directed DHS and FEMA to coordinate federal assistance efforts to recover missing people and children. He will travel to the area on Friday alongside first lady Melania Trump.
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