Press Release

Senators: “As the agency turns a new page, under your leadership, we write to outline several priorities that we hope to advance together.” WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a letter sent this week, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) , a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee , alongside U.S. Senator Andy Kim (D-N.J.) , Ranking Member of the Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee’s Subcommittee , which oversees FEMA , urged Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin to pursue meaningful Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reform, including improving the agency’s disaster response and recovery timeline. Senators Welch and Kim also encouraged Secretary Mullin to support the nomination of an experienced FEMA Administrator, ensure FEMA is adequately staffed, and cooperate with congressional oversight and Office of the Inspector General (OIG) investigations. The Senators also requested a meeting with their former Senate colleague to discuss these priorities. The Senators highlighted how delays in approving disaster aid requests were a persistent issue under former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem: “Delays in approving disaster aid requests were a persistent issue under your predecessor. Former Secretary Noem instituted a policy requiring her approval of all expenses exceeding $100,000. Rather than improving fiscal efficiency, this policy all but paralyzed FEMA’s ability to serve the American people in a timely manner. As of September 2025, former Secretary Noem’s policy had delayed approval of or left approval pending for 1,034 contract, grant, or disaster assistance awards. In Vermont alone, there are 108 pending home buyouts attributable to catastrophic flooding in 2023 and 2024 that represent over $35 million in aid. Delays in aid stall communities’ progress toward recovery after disasters… We support your decision to eliminate former Secretary Noem’s approval threshold policy. We also look forward to working with you to find more ways to streamline FEMA’s funding approval process and ensure disaster aid reaches people in need in a timely manner.” The Senators continued to urge Secretary Mullin to swiftly support an experienced FEMA Administrator and improve staffing and culture at the agency: “A lack of consistent, qualified leadership at FEMA has compromised the Agency’s mission. FEMA is currently operating under its third temporary head in fifteen months, fueling widespread uncertainty among employees and policy whiplash that hampers the Agency’s ability to fulfill its mission. . . . We urge you to swiftly fulfill your commitment to ensure an experienced emergency manager is nominated to run FEMA. FEMA also requires consistent staffing to carry out its emergency management and disaster response duties. We have already seen the consequences of ill-considered staffing cuts carried out by former Secretary Noem. In January 2026, in the face of a major winter storm, the Agency scrambled to pause the termination of roughly 200 disaster workers. While we are thankful these employees are being offered the opportunity to return, FEMA is still facing a dire workforce shortage.” The Senators underscored how, under former Secretary Noem’s leadership, DHS routinely ignored or delayed responding to legislative oversight inquiries: “We also hope that you will promote a culture of transparency and accountability at DHS and within FEMA. . . . Under former Secretary Noem’s leadership, DHS routinely ignored or delayed responding to legislative oversight requests—including requests related to the FEMA Review Council. Senators also have not received responses to questions for the record (QFR) from former Secretary Noem’s March 3rd hearing in the Senate Committee on the Judiciary. We ask that your Department promptly respond to these outstanding requests, which we have enclosed for your review. Finally, according to the DHS Office of Inspector General (OIG), your predecessor obstructed multiple OIG investigations. We urge you to reverse course and allow the OIG to complete its work.” The Senators concluded: “We also hope to work with you to reaffirm FEMA’s independence within DHS. Secretaries have always had some level of leadership and control over the actions at FEMA. However, after the failed response to Hurricane Katrina, Congress passed the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act (PKEMRA), which established FEMA as an independent entity within DHS. PKEMRA limits the DHS Secretary’s authority over FEMA’s mission and responsibilities. Former Secretary Noem repeatedly violated PKEMRA by directing actions at FEMA that weakened our emergency management capabilities. We urge you to work with Congress and comply with PKEMRA, allowing FEMA to make its own necessary decisions to help our nation before, during, and after disasters. We are thankful for the actions you have taken so far to comply with this law.” Read and download Senators Welch and Kim’s full letter to DHS Secretary Mullin. ###