Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has strongly criticized a recent CNN report that accused her of delaying the federal response to the deadly Texas floods by imposing new bureaucratic requirements. Noem fired back at the outlet, noting that while their faulty reporting is expected, it still does a “disservice” to Americans.
Fox News reports, the controversy centers on CNN’s claim that Noem implemented a policy which mandates her personal approval for every Department of Homeland Security (DHS) contract or grant over $100,000 before funds can be released. According to CNN and some FEMA officials, this policy caused significant delays in deploying Urban Search and Rescue teams and providing other critical disaster relief services. The report alleges that, instead of immediate action, FEMA had to wait for Noem’s authorization, which they said did not come until more than 72 hours after the flooding began.
Noem, appearing on Fox News’ “Fox & Friends,” dismissed the CNN report as “absolutely trash,” calling it “fake news” and issued a correction to the outlet noting that her department responded promptly to the disaster. Noem stated that Coast Guard, Border Patrol BORTAC teams were deployed to the disaster zone immediately and that Texas officials received everything they requested without delay. Noem added that neither the Texas governor nor the state’s emergency management director had raised any concerns about the federal response.
"Our Coast Guard, our Border Patrol BORTAC (Border Patrol Tactical Unit) teams were there immediately. Every single thing they asked for, we were there," Noem said. "The governor and the emergency management director, Nim Kidd, are 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 we’ve done to support that."
Noem also called out CNN for politicizing the tragedy and spreading misinformation, arguing that such reporting undermines public trust in the media and the government’s disaster response efforts.
"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,” Noem argued. “It’s a real disservice to the country because people start to mistrust anything that comes out then over the news."