Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ) recently grilled Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem over the Trump administration’s lack of a finalized hurricane preparedness plan and a formal nomination for a FEMA Administrator, just as hurricane season is about to kick off. The Senator, hailing from New Jersey, expressed his concerns, citing past challenges such as Superstorm Sandy. He questioned the acting head of FEMA, Richardson, who admitted to being only 80-85% done with the hurricane season plan just days before the start of the season. Senator Kim pressed Secretary Noem on whether the plan would be shared with the committee.
During the hearing, Secretary Noem mentioned being actively involved in hurricane response planning but was unable to confirm the completion of the report. She promised to check if she could share the plan with the committee, raising further doubts about the administration’s readiness for the upcoming hurricane season. This uncertainty comes at a time when FEMA is facing staff cuts, internal reviews labeling the agency as unprepared, and calls from President Trump to abolish FEMA entirely, adding to the chaos and confusion surrounding disaster response efforts.
As the Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs subcommittee overseeing FEMA, Senator Kim has been advocating for bipartisan reforms to strengthen FEMA’s leadership and ensure communities, not just in New Jersey but across the country, have faith in FEMA’s support during disasters. He emphasized the need to protect survivors from deceptive insurance practices and push for comprehensive federal disaster relief programs that prioritize climate-resilient infrastructure. Senator Kim has been relentless in his efforts to secure federal funding for disaster response, including aiding New Jersey in combating recent wildfires in the southern region. While the administration’s stance on FEMA remains unclear, Senator Kim’s commitment to safeguarding communities in times of crisis remains unwavering.
