In a visit to Western North Carolina on Saturday, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the Trump administration plans to bring the Federal Emergency Management Agency 鈥渋nto the 21st Century鈥� and make it 鈥渁 people's agency,鈥� as the embattled disaster response office 鈥� and much of the federal government 鈥� faces an uncertain future.
Days after taking office last month, President Trump and floated the idea of eliminating FEMA altogether. He suggested that states should play a greater role in disaster response and argued that wildfire aid to California be . He also appointed to recommend changes to the agency, which is part of the Department of Homeland Security.
During a press conference in Swannanoa, Noem, the former South Dakota governor, pledged that whatever changes happen to the agency, disaster aid will not be politicized.
鈥淚 would say about folks that are concerned about FEMA going away is that the accountability will not go away,鈥� Noem said. 鈥淲e've committed that we will design the program in a way that it will not be political. It will not be a situation where winners and losers are chosen 鈥� that every single American will be treated the same.鈥�
She added that the Trump administration is committed 鈥渢o bringing FEMA into the 21st Century, to becoming a people's agency,鈥� and that the changes may ultimately lead to the federal government 鈥済iving the authority, the dollars, and the money to the states so that they can deploy that.鈥�
Noem meets with storm survivors, volunteers and local Democrats
Noem was joined on the visit by who . The former Navy SEAL of his predecessors in leading large-scale recovery efforts, the New York Times reported.
Unlike during Trump鈥檚 visit to the region last month, several Democratic elected officials from Asheville and Buncombe County met with Noem and joined her for the press conference.
They included Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer, Buncombe County Commission Chair Amanda Edwards and Asheville City Council Member Bo Hess. Other officials including Buncombe County Manager Avril Pinder and Assistant Emergency Manager Ryan Cole also joined the event.
Noem and Hamilton started the day by meeting with Swannanoa resident Wanda Robinson and her mother, Nancy Harvey, who are among the many Helene survivors helped by .
Noem , Franklin Graham, for an airlift of clothing to Helene survivors in November.
On Saturday, Graham introduced Noem and Hamilton to the survivors. Robinson showed Noem around the flood-ravaged property and described her harrowing escape from the storm in a boat with her husband and son-in-law.
鈥淚t was crazy. It was so swift and strong,鈥� Robinson said. 鈥淭he plan was for us to get on the boat and then we were going to try to get somewhere, but the current was so strong, he couldn鈥檛 control the boat. 鈥� He put the gas as hard as he could. We went up on the bank, over there, past it, then we all got out and let the boat go.鈥�
After meeting with the storm survivors, Noem and Hamilton traveled a few minutes down the road to , which is run by a Swannanoa nonprofit called the Blessing Project and offers free, donated essentials to Hurricane Helene survivors in need.
The project鈥檚 founder, Kristen Hicks, told Noem about the nonprofit鈥檚 work and showed her some of the items available to visitors, including a basket of Bibles on a table outside the building.
As they spoke, a few hundred feet away, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers team was using heavy machinery to remove debris from the Swannanoa River. Members of the team briefed Noem and Hamilton on their efforts, and Noem climbed into the cab of one of the dump trucks for a demonstration by one of the workers.
Noem, Hamilton offer measured criticism of FEMA
During Saturday鈥檚 press conference, Manheimer and Edwards voiced gratitude for the Trump administration鈥檚 focus on Western North Carolina and emphasized the need for continued resources during the region鈥檚 years-long recovery.
鈥淲e are grateful for the attention that has continued to be placed on Buncombe County and Western North Carolina, and we ask that that attention and focus remain as we have many years of recovery ahead of us,鈥� Edwards said.
Congress will likely consider a new disaster aid package next month, and Manheimer argued that funding for and private road and bridge repair should be among the top priorities.
鈥淪o again, the heart that you see in Western North Carolina is amazing, and it is bolstered by the continued focus on our recovery,鈥� Manheimer said. 鈥淭hat is the energy we need, because it is going to take months and years, and we appreciate all your efforts to help accelerate that recovery.鈥�
In addition to the presence of local Democrats, there were several other marked differences between the Noem and Trump visits. Whereas Trump sharply criticized FEMA鈥檚 leadership under former president Biden, Noem and Hamilton were more measured in their statements.
鈥淚 want to be clear: I heard from people today that had good stories and positive testimonies of what FEMA has done,鈥� Noem said, referring to disaster survivors she met earlier in the day. 鈥淭here were some folks that got their checks promptly, had the assistance that they needed, and we appreciate that. But we also know that isn't true for everybody. And our goal needs to be that it is true for everybody.鈥�
At another point, when talking about the need for flood insurance reform, Noem praised former FEMA administrator Deanne Criswell.
鈥淭he last FEMA administrator that was here during the last administration if it rains where your house is, you should buy flood insurance,鈥� Noem said. 鈥淎nd I thought that was good advice. You know, obviously she was working for President Biden at the time, but I thanked her for saying that, because it is everybody's individual responsibility to be [as] prepared as you possibly can.鈥�
Hamilton said FEMA 鈥渋s an organization with a lot of resources,鈥� but that it needs to do better.
鈥淲e get some things right, but we also get some things wrong,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd like the secretary said, we are dissecting every avenue to ensure that the response can be faster, more efficient. 鈥� But this response really isn't about us. It's about you, the survivors of this community. And that is our sole focus.鈥�
Among the uncertainties in FEMA鈥檚 future is whether the Transitional Sheltering Assistance program will continue to exist. The program, which was , has allowed thousands of Helene survivors to live in hotels and motels until they can find permanent housing.
Asked about the program鈥檚 future, Noem did not give a definitive answer.
鈥淭hat will still be a big part of the conversation, and the task force will be helpful in laying out 鈥� there is still a role for that program and the need will still be there,鈥� she said.
