Political Tribune

Donald Trump, GOP, Opinion, Politics

Americans Outraged As Reports Reveal Kristi Noem Was Responsible For Three Day Delay In Deploying Search-And-Rescue In TX

This is cruel neglect

614
614 points

In those lost hours, lives were lost.

Former FEMA Director Deanne Criswell told CNN, “You lose time, and that’s time that can cost lives in the end.”

But while FEMA waited, Kristi Noem was online.

On Sunday—right amid the deadly disaster—she posted on Instagram, asking her followers to help pick her official portrait. “Which one do you like for the official Governor’s portrait to hang in the South Dakota State Capitol? Thank you, David Uhl!” she wrote, smiling in a cowboy hat.

It wasn’t just ground teams that were delayed. Texas officials had also requested aerial imagery from FEMA to aid in locating missing people and assessing damage. That, too, was stalled.

Even FEMA’s own disaster call center couldn’t bring in more staff without Noem’s green light.

CNN also revealed that a new memo requires all Homeland Security contracts and grants over $100,000 to be signed by Noem herself. Every request must include multiple documents, such as dollar amounts, plans of action, mission impact, and more. It’s a paperwork maze that slows everything down.

Inside FEMA, staff say they’re frustrated and blocked from doing their job.

“We were operating under a clear set of guidance: lean forward, be prepared, anticipate what the state needs,” one longtime FEMA official told CNN. “That is not as clear of an intent for us at the moment.”

This isn’t just about bad leadership. People died waiting for help that was already packed and ready to move.

But Noem’s office defended the changes. Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin told CNN, “FEMA is shifting from bloated, DC-centric dead weight to a lean, deployable disaster force.” She added that the old system “failed Americans in real emergencies for decades.”

That answer didn’t go over well with many Americans online.

Featured image via Screengrab

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Terry Lawson

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Terry is an editor and political writer based in Alabama. Over the last five years, he’s worked behind the scenes as a ghostwriter for a range of companies, helping shape voices and tell stories that connect. Now at Political Tribune, he writes sharp political pieces and edits with a close eye on clarity and tone. Terry’s work is driven by strong storytelling, attention to detail, and a clear sense of purpose. He’s skilled in writing, editing, and project management — and always focused on getting the message right. You can find him on X at https://x.com/TerryNotTrump.

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