Unpacking reports Noem's cost controls delayed FEMA's Texas flood response

After flash floods devastated central Texas in July 2025, a rumor spread online that U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, whose agency oversees the Federal Emergency Management Agency, failed to authorize deployment of FEMA rescue teams for over 72 hours. 

The claim spread on X, Facebook and Reddit. Many posts cited CNN as their source. 

CNN did, in fact, report in a story that according to anonymous sources, Noem did not authorize deployment of FEMA Urban Search and Rescue teams until July 7, more than 72 hours after flooding began. It was not possible to independently verify CNN's reporting as of this writing; therefore, we cannot rate the accuracy of this report. Snopes reached out to the story's two lead reporters, Gabe Cohen and Michael Williams, to ask for more information about their sources and await a response.

In a post on X, the Department of Homeland Security called CNN's report a "FAKE NEWS LIE." Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson at the Department of Homeland Security, did not directly respond to detailed questions about the approval process for FEMA deployment, instead touting the agency's response to the floods in the city of Kerrville and other areas along the Guadalupe River. 

"DHS and its components have taken an all-hands-on-desk approach to respond to recovery efforts in Kerrville," McLaughlin said in an email. "FEMA has deployed extensive staff to support Texas response and recovery operations based on staff skills and requirements." 

McLaughlin added that U.S. Customs and Border Patrol and the U.S. Coast Guard had both deployed search and rescue teams to the affected areas. 

Here's what we know about the alleged delayed deployment. 

Timeline of reported events

CNN first reported on June 18 that Noem ordered "every contract and grant over $100,000 must now cross her desk for approval," according to a memo obtained by the news company. That includes funding for agencies under DHS, like FEMA, the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Hours later, Federal News Network, a publication for federal employees, published a report corroborating CNN's reporting. CNN's story also cited current and former senior FEMA officials who reportedly warned "the new approval process could severely disrupt the distribution of emergency funds during natural disasters." Each official spoke under the condition of anonymity — except one, quoted below: 

"I was shocked. I've never seen a control like this put in place," said Michael Coen, who served as FEMA's chief of staff under the Biden and Obama administrations.

"The amount of documentation and explanation that FEMA would have to do to justify expenditures would cause paralysis," he added. "If lives are at stake, I believe FEMA staff would either disobey that memo or they'll quit."

(Coen posted the story on his LinkedIn, indicating he did, in fact, speak with CNN.) 

In McLaughlin's email to Snopes, the DHS spokesperson did not deny CNN and Federal News Network's reporting, but she also did not directly confirm it. 

"Under Secretary Noem and Acting Administrator Richardson, FEMA is shifting from bloated, DC-centric dead weight to a lean, deployable disaster force that empowers state actors to provide relief for their citizens. The old processes are being replaced because they failed Americans in real emergencies for decades," McLaughlin's email said. "DHS is rooting out waste, fraud, abuse, and is reprioritizing appropriated dollars. Secretary Noem is delivering accountability to the U.S. taxpayer, which Washington bureaucrats have ignored for decades at the expense of American citizens."

Just weeks later, floodwaters swept through Texas Hill Country — and in a story updated July 10, CNN reported that FEMA's "disaster response costs routinely soar into the billions as the agency contracts with on-the-ground crews," resulting in bureaucratic delays as officials sought Noem's personal sign-off on each contract. Here's the relevant portion of the story (emphasis ours): 

For example, as central Texas towns were submerged in rising waters, FEMA officials realized they couldn't pre-position Urban Search and Rescue crews from a network of teams stationed regionally across the country.

In the past, FEMA would have swiftly staged these teams, which are specifically trained for situations including catastrophic floods, closer to a disaster zone in anticipation of urgent requests, multiple agency sources told CNN.

But even as Texas rescue crews raced to save lives, FEMA officials realized they needed Noem's approval before sending those additional assets. Noem didn't authorize FEMA's deployment of Urban Search and Rescue teams until Monday, more than 72 hours after the flooding began, multiple sources told CNN.

Snopes previously examined reports that U.S. President Donald Trump's National Weather Service staffing cuts hurt the Texas flood response.