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.