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Democrats on the Senate Homeland Security Committee pressed Kristi Noem, President-elect Trump’s nominee for Homeland Security secretary, on whether she would apply conditions or withhold policy-based disaster aid at their hearing of confirmation on Friday.
If confirmed, Noem, the former governor of South Dakota, would take office as wildfires ravage California. Both Trump and Noem have blamed the devastating fires on Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), a Trump critic and frequent target, and several GOP lawmakers have suggested that conditions should be attached to any federal aid. In his first term, Trump did not consider a request with the help of another challenger, then-Washington Gov. Jay Inslee (D).
In a largely low-key hearing, Noem said unequivocally that he would not politicize aid as head of the Department of Homeland Security, a department that includes the Federal Emergency Management Agency. However, she was coy about whether she would obey or reject a directive from Trump to do the same.
“I will offer the programs in accordance with the law, and it will be done without political bias,” Noem said, adding that “all Americans deserve to be there and have help in a disaster, just like their neighbors”.
Under questioning from Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), however, he declined to answer whether he would challenge a Trump order to withhold aid based on the politics of the recipients. Noem responded that he would not answer “hypotheticals,” and Blumenthal responded that there were reports of such actions by Trump in his first term.
Noem is likely to be confirmed in the Republican-majority Senate, and his hearing capped a marathon week of hearings ahead of Trump’s inauguration on Monday. Interior secretary nominee Doug Burgum received bipartisan applause at his hearing before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on Thursday. Energy Secretary nominee Chris Wright and Environmental Protection Agency nominee Lee Zeldin have faced tougher questions about their views on climate change, but are also unlikely to face great obstacles.
