Rep. Dale Strong Questions DHS Secretary Noem on Personnel Relocation and FEMA Reform

Relocating DHS Personnel

• 🎯 Rep. Dale Strong inquired about plans to move Department of Homeland Security (DHS) personnel and programs out of Washington D.C. and closer to the citizens they serve.
• 💡 Secretary Noem stated there are currently no plans to move agencies but that DHS is evaluating every mission set for accountability to taxpayers.
• 💰 This evaluation will be reflected in budget requests and potential reprogramming of funds for departments that have gone "off mission."

FEMA Reform and Council Priorities

• 🛠️ Secretary Noem discussed the FEMA review council, noting the potential for adding more members beyond the initial 13 announced.
• ⚠️ The council's priorities include reforming FEMA to better respond to people's needs in crises and strengthening states with more tools and resources.
• ⏳ She highlighted issues with FEMA's follow-through on commitments, citing outstanding claims from Hurricane Katrina and 10-year-old wildfire claims.
• ⚖️ Concerns were raised about political targeting within FEMA, where decisions on aid were allegedly based on political affiliation.

Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection

• 🔒 CISA is highlighted as the federal cybersecurity agency responsible for coordinating with state and local governments.
• 🤝 Efforts are underway to break down silos between CISA, CIA, FBI, and intelligence agencies to improve information sharing.
• 🤝 A key focus is building cooperation with private industry to identify and address vulnerabilities and threats, protecting companies from retribution.
• 🌍 CISA is working with inter-agency partners to secure infrastructure, particularly in anticipation of major events like the World Cup and Olympics.