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Richard Blumenthal: “The Secretary has to approve every contract worth $100,000…”

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 1:11:21

That's what the Federal Emergency Management Administration Agency is supposed to do. Not make it harder for Americans to prevent and recover from disasters. This idea that The Secretary has to approve every contract worth $100,000 has delayed critical aid to those survivors. There's no reason for it, there's no precedent. And I would simply urge my colleagues to join me in demanding that FEMA do better. (1:11:21–1:11:30)

CLAIM

Asserts that a requirement for Secretary approval on contracts over $100,000 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.”
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“In April 2025, FEMA sought to cancel funding for building resilient infrastructure in Communities, the BRIC program.”
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“Survivors of Hurricane Helene in North Carolina have received only 1 billion of the estimated 60 billion in damages.”
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“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…”
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“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
“Secretary Noem's insistence on personally approving every contract worth $100,000 has delayed critical aid to survivors.”
JUST IN: Ron Johnson Leads Senate Homeland Security Committee Hearing On The Palisades Fire | Uploaded January 28, 2026 | 10:46-10:57
“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.”
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“The president provided $29.8 million in September for recovery [from Wisconsin floods].”
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“FEMA, namely the current administrator, is delaying the funding that communities are due to recover.”
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“We're dealing with an emergency in the Federal Emergency Management Agency.”
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“It is bigger than California. It is national in scope.”
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