Trump Official Accused Of Lying To Congress?
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is under fire from House Democrats after leaving a congressional hearing early — sparking a partisan dispute that Republicans say is more about politics than oversight.
Democrats claim Noem misled the House Homeland Security Committee when she said she needed to depart Thursday’s hearing to attend a scheduled meeting of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Review Council. They allege the meeting was later canceled, accusing the secretary of leaving without justification.
The Department of Homeland Security firmly denies that accusation.
According to DHS officials, Secretary Noem was not informed that the FEMA meeting had been canceled until after she had already stepped away from the witness table.
Democrats Push for Subpoena — Republicans Push Back
Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), the committee’s ranking Democrat, attempted to force Noem to return for additional testimony, accusing her of abandoning the hearing and even suggesting she was dishonest about her schedule.
Thompson introduced a motion to subpoena Noem — a move Republicans immediately voted down, calling it unnecessary and politically motivated.
The dispute quickly escalated beyond scheduling questions and into a broader ideological fight over the Trump administration’s push to reform FEMA and reduce Washington’s control over disaster response.
DHS: Secretary Was Informed After She Left
Noem exited the hearing shortly after noon for what had been a 1:00 p.m. FEMA Review Council meeting she was scheduled to co-chair. While Democrats claim the meeting did not take place, DHS says Noem only learned of the cancellation at 12:26 p.m., after leaving the hearing room.
Democrats also pointed out that Noem briefly stopped in the committee’s anteroom following her departure — a detail Republicans dismissed as irrelevant and misleading.
Noem Clearly Explained Her Departure on the Record
Earlier in the hearing, Noem openly told lawmakers she would need to leave early to attend the FEMA Review Council meeting, which was set to deliver recommendations on the agency’s future.
She explained that the council includes both Republicans and Democrats and is tasked with evaluating reforms aimed at improving efficiency, accountability, and response times.
Those reforms align with President Trump’s vision of empowering state and local governments — not federal bureaucracies — to take the lead when disaster strikes.
“Our focus is making sure states and local emergency managers have the tools and flexibility they need to respond quickly and effectively,” Noem told the committee.
Partisan Tensions Spill Over
Thompson also used the moment to criticize FBI Director Kash Patel, who did not appear at a separate hearing, accusing senior Trump administration officials of disregarding congressional oversight.
Republicans strongly rejected that characterization, arguing Democrats are using hearings to generate headlines rather than work cooperatively on national security and disaster preparedness.
Bigger Picture: FEMA Reform and Federal Overreach
At the center of the dispute is a long-running debate over FEMA’s role and effectiveness. Conservatives have repeatedly argued that disaster response works best when states lead and Washington supports, not controls.
Republicans say the backlash against Noem reflects resistance to that reform effort — not any actual misconduct.
