Dhs Secretary Kristi Noem Says Trump Wants Fema 'remade,' Not Dismantled

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Sunday that President Donald Trump wants nan Federal Emergency Management Agency “remade” alternatively than dismantled entirely.

“I deliberation nan president recognizes that FEMA should not beryllium nan measurement that it ever has been. It needs to beryllium redeployed successful a caller way, and that’s what we did during this response,” Noem said successful an question and reply connected NBC News’ “Meet nan Press,” referring to nan national government’s consequence to the Texas floods.

Trump has antecedently slammed FEMA, which is portion of nan Department of Homeland Security, and mused astir perchance “getting rid” of nan agency, which administers emergency relief. Noem, too, has antecedently said that nan management would eliminate FEMA.

Asked connected “Meet nan Press” a 2nd clip whether Trump nary longer wanted to extremity nan agency, Noem reiterated that she believed nan president “wants it to beryllium remade truthful that it’s an agency that is caller successful really it deploys and supports states.”

In nan aftermath of nan Texas floods, which person killed astatine slightest 129 group pinch 166 still missing, nan management has shifted distant from its harsh rhetoric targeting nan agency. Noem told reporters connected Saturday that nan national consequence successful Texas would beryllium really Trump envisions “what FEMA would look for illustration into nan future.”

It’s a acold outcry from really nan president has antecedently targeted nan agency. Just days into his 2nd term, he said, “FEMA has really fto america down, fto nan state down.” That aforesaid day, Trump signed an bid directing a “full-scale review” of FEMA.

Noem besides acknowledged reports from NBC News and different outlets that nan caput requires that she personally motion disconnected connected each agency spending complete $100,000.

“The $100,000 sign-off is for each statement that goes done nan Department of Homeland Security,” Noem said.

“It’s an accountability connected contracts that spell forward,” Noem added. “But location was nary break successful contracts. Those contracts were approved arsenic soon arsenic they were successful beforehand of me, and FEMA knew they were afloat to deploy them nan instant that nan section officials asked for nan request.”

In nan aftermath of nan deadly floods, immoderate Democrats person criticized nan administration’s response, pinch Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., going truthful acold arsenic to opportunity that Noem should resign.

Noem responded to Warren connected Sunday, brushing disconnected nan remark pinch a laugh.

“I don’t attraction what she thinks,” Noem said, adding location was “no” chance she would resign.

Noem calls 'Alligator Alcatraz' 'secure facilities,' not 'jail cells'

Noem connected Sunday responded to disapproval of what nan management is calling “Alligator Alcatraz,” an migrant detention halfway successful Florida. Some Democrats person criticized nan center’s conditions, pinch Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., calling them “really appalling.”

Noem based on that standards astatine national detention centers “are highly high.” The “Alligator Alcatraz” installation is state-managed, which Noem acknowledged.

Wasserman Schultz, who visited nan installation pinch different Florida Democrats, said that detainees were “essentially packed into cages” that held much than 30 group each.

“Wall-to-wall humans,” Wasserman Schultz said Saturday.

Noem said she “wouldn’t telephone them jailhouse cells,” adding, “I would telephone them a installation wherever they are held and that are unafraid facilities, but are held to nan highest levels of what nan national authorities requires for detention facilities.”

The caput said nan management is looking into establishing further detention centers, and she encouraged group to “self-deport.”