WASHINGTON D.C. – During a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing, Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ) pushed back against the Trump administration’s continued attacks against FEMA and lack of commitment to federal disaster response. He pressed on the critical need for a FEMA hurricane preparedness plan and a qualified FEMA administrator to lead the agency’s disaster response. 

Senator Kim addressed Robert Law, nominee to be Under Secretary for Strategy, Policy, and Plans at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the agency overseeing FEMA. “There was no mention of anything about natural disasters in your opening statement about the importance that Homeland Security plays with this,” Senator Kim stated. 

He continued: “I want to just redirect you to the primary mission, stated in the founding document of Homeland Security, which says directly that DHS is acting as a focal point regarding natural and manmade crises and emergency planning. I just say that because I do not see this administration taking that aspect of responding to natural disasters as centrally and important and critically as it should be.” 

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Mr. Law committed to working with Senator Kim on crisis management and emergency response efforts at DHS if confirmed. 

The hearing was held amidst reports that the acting FEMA Director David Richardson was unaware that there was a “hurricane season” and that FEMA’s hurricane preparedness plan was not completed ahead of the season beginning. Last month, Senator Kim pressed DHS Secretary Noem about the lack of a hurricane preparedness plan. During the hearing today, Senator Kim emphasized the critical need for prepared plans from FEMA to assist communities across the country, like those in New Jersey devastated by Superstorm Sandy. 

Senator Kim serves as Ranking Member of the Committee’s subcommittee on Disaster Management, D.C. and Census, whose jurisdiction includes FEMA. He has long advocated for permanent and comprehensive disaster relief at the federal level, pushing to fully authorize and fund federal disaster recovery grant programs and to invest in climate resilient infrastructure. He has also worked to ensure federal funding from FEMA reaches New Jersey to assist in response efforts, including after recent wildfires in South Jersey. 

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