Rep. Ed Case Challenges Sec. Kristi Noem on DHS Budget and Leadership

Concerns Over DHS Budget Allocation

• 🎯 Rep. Ed Case criticizes Secretary Noem's proposed FY2026 budget for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), stating it appears to overfund messaging efforts at the expense of critical areas like cybersecurity, disaster prevention, and transportation security.
• 💸 The congressman points out the use of budget gimmicks, where a claimed 65% increase for border security and the Coast Guard is primarily loaded into a separate reconciliation bill, not the committee's base funding.
• 🏛️ Case argues this approach sidetracks the appropriations committee and misuses reconciliation, intended to maintain an illusion of responsible budgeting while holding needed increases hostage.

Criticism of Specific Agency Funding

• 🚢 A significant portion of the proposed increase is directed towards the border and CBP, with substantial funds also allocated to the US Coast Guard, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region.
• ⚠️ Case questions the need for such large increases at the expense of other programs, especially when the budget proposes a 20% reduction for CISA (Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency), which he deems critical for national defense and civilian infrastructure.
• ✈️ Similarly, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is noted as being inadequately funded, despite its critical role.

Defense of FEMA and TSA

• ✅ Rep. Case defends FEMA against what he calls undeserved criticism, highlighting their good work, especially during the Maui disaster, and calls for adequate funding.
• 🧑‍✈️ He also defends the TSA, stating that reductions are aimed at eliminating unfilled positions rather than impacting essential functions.

Leadership and Safety Concerns

• 🗣️ Secretary Noem states her focus is on returning DHS components to their core missions, such as CISA focusing on critical infrastructure and TSA reducing empty FTEs.
• 🇺🇸 She mentions the President's desire to empower states and local governments in emergency management, moving away from the current FEMA structure.
• 🔒 Ultimately, Rep. Case concludes that until DHS is led and budgeted for transparently and responsibly, he does not feel safer under Secretary Noem's leadership.