Noem quietly keeps FEMA afloat despite calls for elimination | JQJO

Despite publicly advocating for FEMA's elimination, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has quietly taken steps to maintain its operational capacity. Noem approved retaining 2,652 key FEMA employees and pushed for the approval of disaster reimbursement requests from 10 states, totaling 20% of all such approvals during Trump's second term. This contradicts earlier statements about dismantling FEMA. While the administration maintains there's no conflict, the actions raise concerns about FEMA's preparedness for hurricane season, particularly given the loss of numerous senior officials with extensive experience.