Kennedy Slams Noem’s Failures That Have Put Western New York and the Nation at Risk

During Committee Hearing Kennedy Grills DHS Secretary Noem, Calls for Resignation

WASHINGTON, D.C. - During a Homeland Security Committee hearing, Congressman Tim Kennedy (NY-26) pressed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem about the agency's unlawful immigration raids, the dismantling of our nation's emergency preparedness and management capabilities, and unprecedented cuts to counterterrorism funding. Kennedy condemned the deviation from the core missions of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) during Noem's tenure, highlighting a pattern of politically-driven decisions that have made Americans less safe and stripped New York State of essential national security funding.

During the hearing, Kennedy delivered a pointed rebuke of the Secretary's failed leadership, stating: "Your cuts are blatantly political, callous, and outright dangerous. It is clear that you have no interest in countering real threats to the homeland. While high-risk cities and disaster zones wait for help, you've devoted the past 11 months to violent raids, anti-police policies, and nonstop photo-ops. You've brought shame to a Department that was created in a time of unity to protect our people, and it is in the best interest of this nation that you resign immediately."

(Congressman Kennedy's Full Hearing Remarks)

Under Secretary Noem, DHS has slashed over 90 percent of New York State's counterterrorism funds, including $134 million in Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) funding intended to protect New York City, the nation's top terrorism target. The State Homeland Security Program cuts alone eliminated $1.7 million from Erie County and nearly $400,000 from Niagara County, jeopardizing local preparedness and emergency response capacity.

As Ranking Member of the Emergency Management & Technology Subcommittee, Kennedy questioned Secretary Noem's sweeping attacks on FEMA's workforce, capabilities, and grant programs. Her cancellation of the nationwide Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program erased funding for flood mitigation, emergency communications upgrades, and infrastructure improvements across the nation, including a $284,000 award for Buffalo for building code modernization. Kennedy also highlighted Noem's mismanagement of FEMA's response to catastrophic flooding in Central Texas in July of this year, including a three-day delay in aid and unanswered emergency lines.

Kennedy emphasized that these failures are a product of the reckless decisions made by an administration more focused on carrying out extreme and unlawful immigration practices than responsibly monitoring real threats to the homeland, leaving communities like Western New York unnecessarily vulnerable.

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