Democrats are fuming after being blindsided by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
The former South Dakota governor isn’t wasting any time shaking up Washington.
And Kristi Noem shocked Democrats with one brutal move that will change FEMA forever.
Noem takes charge of emergency response overhaul that leaves liberals panicking
For decades, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has been the poster child for government incompetence, leaving devastated Americans waiting for help while bureaucrats shuffled papers.
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem has seen enough.
On Monday, the White House announced Noem will co-chair the newly formed FEMA Review Council alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, sending shockwaves through the Washington establishment.
The Council, created through Executive Order 14180, is tasked with completely restructuring how the federal government responds to emergencies – and Democrats are already warning that Noem’s leadership means their sacred bureaucracy is about to be dismantled.
“The FEMA Review Council is charged with streamlining operations and ensuring FEMA delivers rapid, efficient, and mission-focused relief to Americans in need,” the White House stated in their announcement.
Noem’s emergency management history has Democrats terrified of what comes next
Democrats and the media elites went into complete meltdown mode when they realized Noem would be leading the charge to reform FEMA.
As Governor of South Dakota, Noem built a reputation for rejecting bureaucratic solutions and delivering real results during emergency situations. When winter storms and flooding hit her state, Noem mobilized resources directly to affected communities without waiting for endless approvals.
Most famously, Noem rejected federal COVID mandates and kept South Dakota open during the pandemic – a decision that was vindicated when her state maintained one of the strongest economies in the nation while Democrat-run states collapsed.
FEMA’s catastrophic failures made this intervention inevitable
The appointment of this Council comes after FEMA has repeatedly failed Americans during their most desperate hours of need.
Hurricane Katrina exposed FEMA’s utter incompetence in 2005 when thousands were abandoned in New Orleans without food, water, or medical care for days while FEMA officials were busy scheduling meetings about how to schedule more meetings.
Puerto Ricans suffered without electricity for nearly a year after Hurricane Maria while FEMA-purchased supplies rotted in warehouses due to bureaucratic paralysis.
In Maui last year, desperate wildfire victims were forced to navigate Byzantine paperwork requirements while living in their cars after losing everything.
These repeated failures have turned FEMA into a national embarrassment and made the case for Noem’s no-nonsense approach to emergency management.
Democrats panic as Council is stacked with reform-minded leaders
The Washington establishment nearly had a collective heart attack when they saw the full membership of the Council.
In addition to Noem and Hegseth, President Trump appointed Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who has repeatedly embarrassed the federal government by showing how states can respond more effectively to emergencies.
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin brings his business efficiency mindset, while Florida emergency management chief Kevin Guthrie – the architect of Florida’s rapid hurricane response system – will serve alongside W. Nim Kidd, the Texas emergency management director whose operation has outperformed FEMA time and again.
In a bipartisan twist that left Democrats speechless, Trump also included former Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards’ Chief of Staff Mark Cooper and Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, showing this isn’t about politics but about fixing a broken system.
Perhaps most threatening to the bureaucracy, Trump appointed Robert J. Fenton Jr., a FEMA insider who has twice served as Acting Administrator and knows where all the inefficiencies are hidden.
Noem takes aim at FEMA’s bloated bureaucracy
Noem has been a vocal critic of federal bureaucracy throughout her career, consistently advocating for streamlined government operations that put citizens first.
As Governor of South Dakota, she implemented reforms that cut unnecessary red tape and accelerated emergency response times across her state.
This approach stands in stark contrast to FEMA’s current structure, which has been criticized for multiple layers of management that delay critical decisions during emergencies, extensive paperwork requirements for disaster victims, and a culture that often prioritizes following procedures over rapidly delivering aid.
Private sector expertise will revolutionize disaster response
In a move that has government unions screaming, Trump appointed Evan Greenberg, CEO of insurance giant Chubb Limited, to bring private sector expertise to disaster response.
Insurance companies typically have claims adjusters on the ground within 24 hours of a disaster, while FEMA often takes weeks to process applications – a disparity Noem intends to eliminate.
The involvement of RNC Chairman Michael Whatley signals Trump and Noem have the political muscle to implement sweeping changes despite inevitable resistance from entrenched bureaucrats.
With this council of proven leaders, Noem is positioned to deliver a comprehensive overhaul of America’s emergency response system – one that will finally put the needs of disaster victims ahead of bureaucratic procedures and political considerations.
If she succeeds, it will represent one of the most significant reforms of the federal bureaucracy in decades – and cement Noem’s reputation as one of the most effective members of Trump’s Cabinet.
