Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was accused of misleading House Homeland Security Committee members when she said she was departing a Thursday hearing early to attend another meeting that was actually canceled.
Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) moved to subpoena Noem to reappear before the panel, saying she shirked her duties and may have even lied about needing to attend a meeting of the FEMA Council convened to determine the future of the disaster agency.
Beyond putting Noem in hot water with the committee’s Democrats, the cancellation raises questions about the Trump administration’s plans to diminish FEMA and give more power to states to respond to disasters.
“I understand on good information that the FEMA council meeting was canceled so there was no need for her to go,” Thompson said, referencing a meeting to determine the future of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
“She was a liar with no respect for congressional oversight.”
Noem’s office did not immediately respond to request for comment and The Hill independently verified the meeting had been canceled.
Republicans voted down Thompson’s motion to again call her before the committee.
Noem left the meeting shortly after noon after mentioning earlier in the hearing that she would need to leave to attend the FEMA Council meeting.
“I have to actually leave this hearing early, because the FEMA review Council is giving their report today on suggestions for changes to FEMA. I have to co chair it, but I will be leaving soon to have to go do that,” Noem said.
“But those suggestions are Republicans and Democrats coming forward with how FEMA should go forward in the future, based on the president’s vision for making sure that states get the chance to manage it, and that local emergency managers get the chance to go and help their communities in a much more efficient way.”
Thompson said he was told Noem would stay much later and lamented that FBI Director Kash Patel also did not attend a hearing where the director traditionally testifies.
“She joined FBI Director Kash Patel in telling the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security to pound sand by getting up and walking out in the middle of the hearing,” he said.
“We were told that she’d be here until 1 o’clock, but she left significantly early. This is an embarrassing display from someone who can’t take the heat, is disrespectful to the committee and the Constitution [and] the separation of powers.”
—Rachel Frazin contributed.