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Mullin Sees Different Vision for FEMA 03/19 06:12
(AP) -- President Donald Trump's nominee to head the Department of Homeland
Security presented a softer approach on federal emergency management in his
Senate confirmation hearing, rejecting the idea of eliminating FEMA and
pledging to undo some of his predecessor's unpopular policies.
The remarks by Markwayne Mullin on Wednesday raised hopes among disaster
response managers that a shift is coming in the administration's approach to
the Federal Emergency Management Agency after months of turbulence under
outgoing Secretary Kristi Noem.
But despite his mostly conciliatory remarks about federal disaster response,
it remains to be seen what reforms Mullin would actually champion, or how he
would lead if confirmed. Mullin is loyal to Trump, whose messaging on FEMA has
been inconsistent.
"It's got a great mission, and I think people at FEMA want to do their job,"
Mullin told fellow Oklahoma Sen. James Lankford Wednesday in his confirmation
hearing to replace Noem. Mullin said he backed reforms for the agency to make
it more effective, speed up payments to state and local jurisdictions and
better serve rural communities.
Trump has repeatedly floated the idea of phasing out the agency and pushing
more disaster responsibilities to states. Mullin's remarks came less than a
year after FEMA's then-acting leader Cameron Hamilton was fired following a
House committee hearing where he said the agency should not be eliminated.
FEMA under Noem went through turbulence
FEMA was mired in upheaval and uncertainty throughout Noem's DHS tenure,
undergoing staff reductions, program cuts and delays to disaster declarations
and spending.
The release of a highly anticipated report from the Trump-appointed FEMA
Review Council meant to spell out recommendations for overhauling the agency is
months late, keeping states and other stakeholders in suspense over how much
they can rely on federal disaster support in the future.
Former FEMA officials expressed hope that Mullin's comments could mark a
change from the tumult experienced under Noem, and an opening to serious
reforms to streamline the agency.
"He gets the importance of FEMA and while there is definitely room for
improvement, he understands the partnership with FEMA is essential," said
Deanne Criswell, FEMA administrator under President Joe Biden.
Pete Gaynor, FEMA administrator during Trump's first term, said Mullin's
remarks represented "an impressive and meaningful first step forward."
Mullin suggests a change in approach is coming to FEMA
In exchanges with Lankford and Democratic Sen. Andy Kim of New Jersey,
Mullin maintained that disaster response should be locally led with FEMA in a
supporting role, an approach already laid out in the agency's mission, and that
reforms were needed to speed payments to disaster-hit communities.
"Taking years to get reimbursed is not acceptable," Mullin said. "Taking,
honestly, months to get reimbursed is not acceptable."
Pressed by Kim on specific policies, Mullin said he would revoke Noem's
directive that she must personally approve expenditures over $100,000, a rule
that infuriated lawmakers of both parties who said it compromised disaster
response and recovery.
"I'm not a micromanager," said Mullin, also telling Kim that he was already
looking at potential nominees for a permanent FEMA administrator. Trump still
has not nominated a permanent FEMA administrator and the agency is under its
third temporary leader.
While Mullin told Kim the agency would be "adequately staffed" to respond to
the nation's disasters, he stopped short of saying whether he believed FEMA had
too many employees.
Mullin also committed to working with lawmakers on potential FEMA reforms
after Kim complained that Noem had not engaged senators as FEMA Review Council
co-chair. Mullin vowed to have "the best" outreach to lawmakers, acknowledging
that FEMA reforms can't happen without them.
"I'm pretty sure that you guys set the policies and mission for FEMA, so for
any serious changes, it may take actually policy changes," he told Kim. FEMA's
mission and responsibilities are outlined in the 1988 Stafford Act and
subsequent laws, and many changes to its processes require legislative action.
Some are not yet convinced that change is coming
Amanda Devecka-Renear, executive director of the New Jersey Organizing
Project, which advocates for Hurricane Sandy survivors, said she wanted to wait
to see Mullin's words put to action.
"Disaster survivors have been misled by hollow rhetoric before, and will be
watching closely if Sen. Mullin is confirmed by the Senate to see if his
actions match his words," Devecka-Renear said.
It's not clear whether Mullin would embrace some of the reform ideas floated
by Trump, Noem and the FEMA Review Council, such as giving states block grants
instead of reimbursements and revising the thresholds state and local
communities must meet to qualify for a major disaster declaration.
Disaster experts and some local stakeholders have cautioned that those
changes could mean less money to states, tribes and territories. States would
have to make budget tradeoffs to adapt to any federal downsizing of support,
and need time to make those adjustments, Peter Muller, senior officer at The
Pew Charitable Trusts, said at a gathering of state emergency managers last
week.
Mullin also did not directly commit to reinstating FEMA employees who were
put on leave after signing an August public letter of dissent opposing policies
they said weakened the agency, but told Kim that retaliating against
whistleblowers was against the law.
"I'll work within the law and the requirements of me, as secretary," he said.
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