WASHINGTON, D.C. — Last night, new CNN reporting revealed that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem withheld FEMA’s Urban Search and Rescue teams for more than three full days after devastating floods in Texas had already begun, putting lives further at risk after devastating cuts to the National Weather Service.
In response, Defend America Action Senior Spokesperson Rodericka Applewhaite released the following statement:
“Donald Trump has proven over and over and over that when it comes to protecting the American people from natural disasters, he’s either asleep at the wheel, or wrecking the car on purpose. And now, Trump’s instincts to blow off disaster response have trickled down to the rest of his administration. Kristi Noem waited more than three full days after flooding in Texas began before deploying FEMA’s Urban Search and Rescue teams. That’s not just a dereliction of duty — just like Trump, Noem displayed a complete and utter callousness about helping Americans in their time of need. This unfathomable tragedy is yet another proof point for something we’ve known for years: Donald Trump doesn’t care about us, and he never will.”
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