"The records show that Noem quickly expedited more than $11 million of federal money to rebuild a historic pier in Naples, Florida, after she was contacted by a major financial supporter last month. The pier is a tourist attraction in the wealthy Gulf Coast enclave and was badly damaged by Hurricane Ian in 2022. Frustrated city officials had been laboring for months, without success, to get disaster assistance. But just two weeks after the donor stepped in, they were celebrating their sudden change of fortune."
"'I can't get phone calls back,' Ted Budd, the Republican senator from North Carolina, told a newspaper this month, describing his attempts to reach Noem's office. 'I can't get them to initiate the money. It's just a quagmire.' The delays were caused in part by a new policy announced by DHS that requires Noem's personal sign-off on expenses over $100,000, several news outlets reported."
Many communities hit by floods and hurricanes experienced slow delivery of FEMA disaster aid, including central Texas and North Carolina. Officials attributed delays to a DHS policy requiring Kristi Noem's personal sign-off on expenses over $100,000. Local leaders reported difficulty reaching Noem's office and initiating funds. A major political donor contacted Noem on behalf of Naples, Florida, and Noem quickly expedited more than $11 million to rebuild a historic pier damaged by Hurricane Ian in 2022. City officials moved from months of delay to rapid action within two weeks, with FEMA staff stating leadership pushed the project immediately.
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