Kristi Noem says Trump doesn’t want to eliminate disaster relief during Kentucky visit

HomelandSecuritySecretaryKristiNoemvisitedpartsofKentuckythatwerehithardestbyfloodingandmetwithdisastermanagementofficialsincludingDemocraticGov.AndyBeshearonWednesday. Noem,whooverseestheFederalEmergencyManagementAgency,toldreportersthatPresidentDonaldTrump’splansmightincludecuttingFEMA’sadministration,butthatwouldnotnecessarilyaffecttheamountofmoneygoingtostates. “That’sreallyPresidentTrump’svision,”Noemsaid.“You’veheardhimtalkabouteliminatingFEMA,andwhathemeansbythatisthatthepeoplethatareclosesttotheindividualsthatwerehurtorimpactedbyadisasteraretheoneswhoknowwhattheyneedmorethanpeoplesittinginWashington,D.C.do.” Lastmonth,aftertouringNorthCarolina’sfloodingpost-HurricaneHelene,TrumpsaidFEMAistoobureaucraticandthatstategovernmentsshouldhandledisasterswithintheirstates.Healsosaidhewouldissueanexecutiveorderto“begintheprocessoffundamentallyreformingandoverhaulingFEM