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Richard Blumenthal: “Secretary Noem's insistence on personally approving every…”

Featuring: Richard Blumenthal, Democratic | U.S. Senate from Connecticut

JUST IN: Ron Johnson Leads Senate Homeland Security Committee Hearing On The Palisades Fire

Published January 28, 2026 | Video Starts at 10:46

I just want to make clear the effect is on red and blue states alike. Secretary Noem's insistence on personally approving every contract worth $100,000 has delayed critical aid to survivors. including the deployment of search and rescue teams in the Texas flooding. My home state of Connecticut is waiting on $5 million in hazardous mitigation funds and some $80 million in public assistance funds. (10:46–10:57)

CLAIM

Asserts that Secretary Noem's contract approval process delays aid.

This is an excerpt from a raw transcript. The assertions have not been audited or verified. Tap the video to view the source footage and understand the context.

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Richard Blumenthal

“In Texas last summer, more than 135 people died in a historic flood.”
JUST IN: Ron Johnson Leads Senate Homeland Security Committee Hearing On The Palisades Fire | Uploaded January 28, 2026 | 08:43-08:49
“In April 2025, FEMA sought to cancel funding for building resilient infrastructure in Communities, the BRIC program.”
JUST IN: Ron Johnson Leads Senate Homeland Security Committee Hearing On The Palisades Fire | Uploaded January 28, 2026 | 09:52-10:02
“Survivors of Hurricane Helene in North Carolina have received only 1 billion of the estimated 60 billion in damages.”
JUST IN: Ron Johnson Leads Senate Homeland Security Committee Hearing On The Palisades Fire | Uploaded January 28, 2026 | 11:23-11:35
“FEMA's lost thousands of employees in the first half of 2025.”
JUST IN: Ron Johnson Leads Senate Homeland Security Committee Hearing On The Palisades Fire | Uploaded January 28, 2026 | 11:49-11:55
“The Palisades fire was a horrific calamity. Communities were wiped out, thousands of homes were burned to the ground, and 13 people lost…”
JUST IN: Ron Johnson Leads Senate Homeland Security Committee Hearing On The Palisades Fire | Uploaded January 28, 2026 | 08:19-08:33
“Communities across the south are still struggling to recover from Hurricane Elaine 2024.”
JUST IN: Ron Johnson Leads Senate Homeland Security Committee Hearing On The Palisades Fire | Uploaded January 28, 2026 | 08:48-08:56
“A severe rainstorm in August 2024 unleashed deadly flash flooding, causing millions of dollars in damages and killing two people [in…”
JUST IN: Ron Johnson Leads Senate Homeland Security Committee Hearing On The Palisades Fire | Uploaded January 28, 2026 | 08:55-09:09
“Cuts in FEMA funding are crippling the resilience and robustness of the federal response [to natural disasters].”
JUST IN: Ron Johnson Leads Senate Homeland Security Committee Hearing On The Palisades Fire | Uploaded January 28, 2026 | 09:40-09:51
“FEMA slashed the reimbursements it provides to fire departments when they send vehicles to help fight fires outside their jurisdiction.”
JUST IN: Ron Johnson Leads Senate Homeland Security Committee Hearing On The Palisades Fire | Uploaded January 28, 2026 | 10:06-10:16
“Responsibility for these cuts goes to Secretary Noem, who has weakened the Federal Emergency Management Agency.”
JUST IN: Ron Johnson Leads Senate Homeland Security Committee Hearing On The Palisades Fire | Uploaded January 28, 2026 | 10:21-10:31
“Connecticut is waiting on $5 million in hazardous mitigation funds and some $80 million in public assistance funds.”
JUST IN: Ron Johnson Leads Senate Homeland Security Committee Hearing On The Palisades Fire | Uploaded January 28, 2026 | 11:03-11:13
“FEMA has been withholding millions of dollars in mitigation funding from Florida, Louisiana and Texas.”
JUST IN: Ron Johnson Leads Senate Homeland Security Committee Hearing On The Palisades Fire | Uploaded January 28, 2026 | 11:38-11:49
“FEMA also helps homeowners, small businesses recover.”
JUST IN: Ron Johnson Leads Senate Homeland Security Committee Hearing On The Palisades Fire | Uploaded January 28, 2026 | 1:09:52-1:09:58
“States like Florida, where they are still awaiting funding.”
JUST IN: Ron Johnson Leads Senate Homeland Security Committee Hearing On The Palisades Fire | Uploaded January 28, 2026 | 1:09:58-1:10:03
“The president provided $29.8 million in September for recovery [from Wisconsin floods].”
JUST IN: Ron Johnson Leads Senate Homeland Security Committee Hearing On The Palisades Fire | Uploaded January 28, 2026 | 1:10:27-1:10:36
“FEMA, namely the current administrator, is delaying the funding that communities are due to recover.”
JUST IN: Ron Johnson Leads Senate Homeland Security Committee Hearing On The Palisades Fire | Uploaded January 28, 2026 | 1:10:41-1:10:52
“The Secretary has to approve every contract worth $100,000 has delayed critical aid to those survivors.”
JUST IN: Ron Johnson Leads Senate Homeland Security Committee Hearing On The Palisades Fire | Uploaded January 28, 2026 | 1:11:21-1:11:30
“We're dealing with an emergency in the Federal Emergency Management Agency.”
JUST IN: Ron Johnson Leads Senate Homeland Security Committee Hearing On The Palisades Fire | Uploaded January 28, 2026 | 1:12:09-1:12:16
“It is bigger than California. It is national in scope.”
JUST IN: Ron Johnson Leads Senate Homeland Security Committee Hearing On The Palisades Fire | Uploaded January 28, 2026 | 1:12:32-1:12:43