A major Federal Emergency Management Agency meeting was abruptly canceled shortly before beginning after Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem cut short her congressional testimony to attend.
The meeting was scheduled to begin at 1 p.m., and Noem learned of its cancellation at 12:26 p.m., a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security told the Hill. No explanation was given for the meeting’s cancellation.
One of the most notable aspects of its cancellation was Noem’s use of the meeting as an excuse to leave her heated House testimony early.
“I have to actually leave this hearing early because the FEMA Review Council is giving their report today on suggestions for changes to FEMA. I have to co-chair it, but I will be leaving soon to have to go do that,” she said.
After news of the cancellation got out, congressional Democrats were livid.
“I understand on good information that the FEMA Council meeting was canceled, so there was no need for her to go,” Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS) said. “She was a liar with no respect for congressional oversight.”
The Homeland Security Committee Democrats’ X account issued a similar statement.
“It is inexcusable to lie to Congress to evade questions and accountability,” it said. “Kristi Noem is a gutless coward.”
However, other reports suggest the sudden cancellation took Noem by surprise. A person familiar with the meeting told the Washington Post that four of the 10 council members set to preside over the meeting were sitting in a hotel lobby awaiting further instruction when the cancellation was revealed.
The FEMA meeting was supposed to present publicly a long-anticipated report from the FEMA Review Council, created in January by President Donald Trump, which was meant to outline suggestions for reforming the federal emergency response agency. Noem was responsible for overseeing and presenting the report to the president.
While DHS and the White House haven’t given an explanation for the meeting’s cancellation, reports suggest that the White House was unsatisfied with the report. People familiar with the matter told the Washington Post that after senior White House officials saw the report earlier this week, Noem was told the Thursday meeting should not go forward. It was reportedly viewed as too vague and lacking key details.
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“It was too macro, too high-level,” a person with knowledge of the situation told the outlet.
The gaffe comes as reports swirl that the White House is unhappy with Noem’s handling of DHS, something denied by Trump.
