Gavin Newsom demands Kristi Noem release $500M in stalled LA fire FEMA funding

California Gov. Gavin Newsom ripped outgoing Homeland Safety Secretary Kristi Noem over her controversial advert marketing campaign and demanded the company instantly launch greater than $500 million in stalled FEMA funding for Los Angeles wildfire restoration.

Newsom, in a statement, labeled Noem “Kosplay Barbie” and accused her of prioritizing a $220 million taxpayer-funded advert marketing campaign that includes herself over catastrophe aid for fire-ravaged communities.

“Whereas Kristi Noem poured $220 million of taxpayer cash right into a political advert marketing campaign that includes herself on horseback, greater than $500 million in FEMA funding for LA fireplace restoration sat stalled on her desk,” Newsom mentioned in an announcement alongside a nonetheless photograph of Noem using a horse from the broadly publicized advert.

“Households in Los Angeles shouldn’t have to attend whereas she and Donald Trump play politics. Launch the funding now and redirect these {dollars} to assist communities rebuild.”

The Los Angeles wildfires burned for weeks in early 2025, destroying hundreds of properties throughout areas together with Pacific Palisades and Altadena and inflicting tens of billions of {dollars} in estimated harm.

Newsom’s workplace mentioned DHS beneath Noem required her private sign-off on each division contract, grant or catastrophe award exceeding $100,000, together with FEMA public assistance and hazard mitigation grants. The governor mentioned the coverage created a backlog of awards that had already been vetted, awaiting remaining approval.

In line with Newsom’s workplace, greater than $500 million tied to Los Angeles fireplace restoration stays stalled, together with roughly $94 million in hazard mitigation funding for the area. These funds sometimes assist rebuilding colleges, repairing roads and strengthening infrastructure towards future disasters.

KRISTI NOEM’S FIRING FAILS TO SWAY DEMOCRATS AS DHS SHUTDOWN DRAGS ON

California Gov. Gavin Newsom, left, criticized former Homeland Safety Secretary Kristi Noem over a $220 million advert marketing campaign that featured her using a horse, as he referred to as for the discharge of stalled FEMA funds for Los Angeles wildfire restoration. (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu by way of Getty Photographs; DHS photograph by Tia Dufour/Launched)

The delays are affecting rebuilding efforts in canyon and foothill neighborhoods, together with areas above Pasadena and Altadena, the place broken park amenities, fenced-off trailheads and non permanent street repairs stay in place whereas native companies await federal reimbursement, his workplace mentioned.

President Donald Trump lower quick Noem’s tenure on the Department of Homeland Security after weeks of inside turmoil and named her “Special Envoy for the Shield of the Americas,” a newly created function he described as a part of a broader Western Hemisphere safety initiative. The White Home has not but detailed the scope of the place.

Noem was eliminated because the nation’s immigration chief after a turbulent stretch marked by inside clashes and two contentious congressional hearings the place even some Republicans pressed her over alleged management missteps, together with the advert marketing campaign, which she mentioned the president had signed off on.

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A girl pours water on a neighbor’s fire-ravaged property within the aftermath of the Palisades Hearth within the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, on Jan. 9, 2025 (AP/Jae C. Hong)

Trump introduced on Fact Social that Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., will replace her effective March 31, whereas Noem shifts to the newly created envoy function, which the president mentioned he’ll element this weekend.

Fox Information’ Charles Creitz and Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.

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