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Kristi Noem's Surprising Shift in Support for FEMA Amid Winter Storm

KVIA•Friday, January 30, 2026 at 10:00 AM•CNN Newsource

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Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem made an unexpected visit to FEMA headquarters as a major winter storm approached, surprising staff who have faced her criticism over the past year. Noem, who has previously labeled FEMA as ineffective and threatened major reforms, shifted her tone to encourage staff to prepare for the storm response. This visit comes amid ongoing controversies surrounding her leadership, particularly regarding immigration enforcement and recent violence in Minneapolis. Despite the challenges, Noem's sudden support for FEMA has raised questions about the future of the agency's operations and morale, especially as staff layoffs have been paused temporarily. The situation highlights the delicate balance between federal and state disaster response efforts.

Key Details: • Noem's visit to FEMA occurred just before a significant winter storm. • The agency has seen about 300 contract workers terminated since January. • FEMA's National Response Coordination Center was activated in preparation for the storm. • Noem's comments on FEMA's role indicate a potential shift in federal disaster response strategy.

immigration leadership winter-storm fema disaster-response

People & Organizations

Department of Homeland SecurityKristi NoemMinneapolisFEMAAlex Pretti

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