Markwayne Mullin Pledges to End Noem’s Disaster Relief Sign-Off Policy

Sen. Markwayne Mullin told senators Wednesday that he plans on ending Kristi Noem’s spending policy, which delayed disaster aid, if confirmed to replace her as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.

Prompted by a question by Democratic Sen. Andy Kim at his confirmation hearing, Mullin said that he would “absolutely” end the policy, calling it “micromanaging.” The policy, instituted by Noem last year, required that she personally approve all agency expenses of $100,000 or more before the funds were disbursed.

“I don’t know if the secretary put that in or someone else did. I’m not a micromanager. We put people in. We empower them to make decisions. What is required to come in to my level, we’ll make decisions,” Mullin said. “We will have a very clear line of communication with every one of our agency’s heads on their authority that is given to you, or that you gave to them within their parameters. And we’ll discuss, but we’re also going to be very responsible for the taxpayer dollars.”

Lawmakers from both parties and employees at the agency said the policy created delays in disaster aid, COVID-19 reimbursements and hazard-mitigation funding. Ahead of the hearing, some lawmakers said that ending the policy at the agency was a top priority.

Mullin also addressed the administration’s past comments on eliminating the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Mullin said that his plan would be more focused on reforming it.

“FEMA was never designed to be the first responder. That’s the states. FEMA was designed to be the assistance to the states when the disaster reaches certain levels,” Mullin said. “But for the FEMA to walk in, like FBI, walking on a crime scene and taking over, no one’s going to care more about their backyard than the people that live there in that state.”

President Donald Trump removed Noem following two contentious Capitol Hill hearings earlier this month, with the plan of installing Mullin in the position by March 31. During Noem’s appearances, lawmakers blasted her for delaying aid to states, an issue that was widely expected to be something Mullin would also be questioned about.

During her tenure as secretary, Noem cut thousands of FEMA employees, including those who worked on disaster recovery.

“We saw about 2,400 staff cuts at FEMA,” Kim said. “And again, we’re not talking about the reforms. But we’re talking about those that are trying to respond to these disasters every single day. So I wanted to ask, if you’re confirmed, if you will stop these dangerous staff cuts that have reduced FEMA’s disaster readiness?”

Mullin was noncommittal about ending the terminations.

“I’m not trying to play politics, but what’s been the biggest disaster is not funding [FEMA employees] three times in a year,” Mullin said. “However, some of these agencies under the current administration … all of them got very bloated with having too many employees.”