Mullen, nominee for Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, offers a different vision for FEMA than his predecessor Noem.

President Donald Trump’s nominee to head the Department of Homeland Security offered a softer approach on Federal Emergency Management at his Senate confirmation hearing, rejecting the idea of ​​eliminating the Federal Emergency Management Agency and vowing to undo some of his predecessor’s unpopular policies.

Markwayne Mullen’s remarks Wednesday raised hopes among disaster response managers that a shift is coming in the administration’s approach to FEMA after months of turmoil under outgoing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

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Despite Mullen’s mostly conciliatory statements on federal disaster response, it remains to be seen what changes he would support or how he would lead them if confirmed. Mullen is loyal to the Republican president, whose messaging to FEMA has been inconsistent.

“She has a great mission, and I think the people at FEMA want to do their job,” Mullen told fellow Republican Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma during his nomination hearing. Mullen said he supports efforts to make FEMA more effective, speed up payments to state and local jurisdictions and better serve rural communities.

Trump has floated the idea of ​​phasing out the agency and placing more disaster responsibilities on states. Mullen’s comments came less than a year after Cameron Hamilton, the acting head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, was fired after a House committee hearing in which he said the agency should not be abolished.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) under Noem’s leadership

FEMA has been mired in turmoil and uncertainty throughout Noem’s tenure at the Department of Homeland Security. There have been staff cuts, program cuts, and delays in disaster declarations and spending.

A report by a Trump-appointed FEMA review board aimed at outlining recommendations for reforming the agency has been delayed for months, keeping states and others in suspense over how much they can rely on federal disaster support in the future.

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Former FEMA officials expressed hope that Mullen’s comments would represent a change from the turmoil of the Noem era and signal an opening for serious efforts to streamline the agency.

“He recognizes the importance of FEMA, and while there is certainly room for improvement, he recognizes that the partnership with FEMA is essential,” said Diane Criswell, FEMA administrator under Democratic President Joe Biden.

Pete Gaynor, administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency during Trump’s first term, said Mullen’s comments were “an impressive and meaningful first step forward.”

Mullen suggests that change is coming

In his conversations with Lankford and Sen. Andy Kim, D-N.J., Mullen emphasized that disaster response must be locally led, with FEMA playing a supporting role — an approach enshrined in the agency’s mission — and that changes are needed to accelerate payments to communities affected by disasters.

“Taking years to get compensation is unacceptable,” Mullen said. “Frankly, taking months to get compensation is unacceptable.”

After coming under pressure from Kim on specific policies, Mullen said he would rescind Noem’s directive that she must personally approve expenditures of more than $100,000, a rule that has angered lawmakers from both parties who say it jeopardizes disaster response and recovery.

He watches: Trump fires Noem amid controversy over her leadership at the Department of Homeland Security

“I’m not a micromanager,” Mullen said, also telling Kim that he is looking for potential candidates for the permanent FEMA director position. Trump has not nominated a permanent head for the agency, which is now under its third interim leader.

While Mullen told Kim that FEMA would have “adequate staffing” to respond to the nation’s disasters, he stopped short of saying whether he thought it had too many staff.

Mullen committed to working with lawmakers on potential changes to FEMA after Kim complained that Noem had not engaged senators

“I’m pretty sure you set the policies and mission for FEMA, so for any serious changes, it may take actual policy changes,” he told Kim.

Some are not convinced

Amanda Devica-Reiner, executive director of the New Jersey Organizing Project, which advocates for Hurricane Sandy survivors, said she wanted to wait to see Mullen’s words put into practice.

“Disaster survivors have been misled by empty rhetoric before, and we will be watching closely if the Senate confirms Senator Mullen to see if his actions match his words,” Devika-Reiner said.

It’s not clear whether Mullen will embrace some of the ideas floated by Trump, Noem and the FEMA review board, such as giving states block grants instead of reimbursement and revising the thresholds states and local communities must meet to qualify for a major disaster declaration.

Disaster experts and some local stakeholders have warned that these changes could mean less money for states, tribes and territories. States will have to make budget trade-offs to adjust to any reduction in federal support and will need time to make those adjustments, according to Peter Mueller, a senior official at The Pew Charitable Trusts, who spoke at a gathering of state emergency managers last week.

Mullen did not directly commit to bringing back FEMA employees who were placed on leave after signing a public letter of opposition in August opposing policies they said weakened the agency. He admitted to Kim that retaliation against whistleblowers is against the law.

“I will work within the law and my requirements as secretary,” he said.