During a news conference, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem highlighted the Trump administration’s swift and reformed disaster response to the catastrophic Fourth of July floods in Texas Hill Country. The flooding, which killed at least 119 people and left over 150 missing—including 27 girls from Camp Mystic—prompted immediate federal action. Noem said the rapid deployment of aid reflects President Trump’s vision for a more responsive and locally empowered FEMA.

Noem contrasted the Texas response with past disaster management under President Biden. She criticized Biden’s handling of emergencies such as the East Palestine train derailment, the 2023 Maui wildfires, and Hurricane Helene, calling those responses delayed and ineffective. Noem emphasized that FEMA, under Trump, is being fundamentally reshaped to prevent such failures.

In Texas, aid reportedly arrived almost immediately. Noem described how Coast Guard units, aircraft, Border Patrol tactical teams, and other federal responders were pre-deployed. She noted that, for the first time, FEMA pre-distributed funds directly to Texas so the state could act quickly without waiting for bureaucratic approval.

Trump’s goal, according to Noem, is to empower state and local governments in disaster response. She stressed that emergencies are most effectively handled when locally executed and state-managed, with the federal government acting in support—not control. The Trump approach aims to eliminate delays caused by federal red tape.

Looking ahead, Noem indicated that FEMA could be dismantled or renamed entirely. She envisions a faster, decentralized agency focused on direct state support, training, and immediate action to better serve communities in crisis.