Senator Tillis Demands Noem’s Resignation Over Border, FEMA Failures

Tillis Launches Scathing Attack on Noem, Citing Border Security and FEMA Mismanagement

Washington D.C. – Senator Thom Tillis unleashed a blistering critique of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, and by extension, the Biden administration’s border policies, during a recent congressional hearing. However, the senator’s ire was particularly directed at Secretary Mayorkas, whom he accused of a “disaster” in border management and a failure to adequately support law enforcement. Tillis’s remarks, delivered with forceful conviction, highlighted what he described as missed opportunities and systemic failures within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), culminating in a direct call for Mayorkas’s resignation.

Border Security Crisis and ‘Millions of People’

Senator Tillis began by echoing the frustrations of many Republicans regarding the situation at the U.S. southern border. He referenced accounts from colleagues, including Senator Brett and Senator Schmidt, who shared stories of individuals traumatized by the very people entering the country. “A lot of us are very frustrated with the disaster that President Biden left behind and a failed DHS,” Tillis stated, emphasizing the perceived consequences of the administration’s policies.

He drew a direct line from the current border situation to the 2020 election, asserting that former President Trump’s victory was partly fueled by public dissatisfaction with “open border policy and allowing millions of people to come to this country.” Tillis specifically cited “1.7 million called gotaways,” raising concerns about national security and the unknown whereabouts of these individuals. He posited that those who pay premiums to cartels to enter the country are likely not individuals seeking benign entry.

Criticism of Noem’s Leadership and FEMA Operations

While the initial criticism was aimed broadly at the Biden administration’s handling of the border, Tillis pivoted to a specific, pointed critique of Secretary Mayorkas’s leadership. “We’re missing an opportunity,” Tillis declared, suggesting that the current approach is not effectively addressing the scale of the problem.

The senator’s dissatisfaction extended to FEMA operations under Mayorkas’s purview. Tillis revealed a policy requiring that any FEMA response exceeding $100,000 must go through the Secretary’s desk for approval. He questioned the necessity and efficiency of such a bottleneck, particularly for states facing catastrophic disasters. “If you’re requesting a review of $100,000 and up that it begs the question why? Why would you be involved in that? Why would that be a policy?” he asked.

To illustrate the potential impact, Tillis contrasted the current administration’s FEMA response with that of the Trump administration. He used the example of a hypothetical $60 billion disaster, comparing it to South Dakota’s largest disaster under a previous administration, which was approximately half a billion dollars. “One 100th of this single storm where thousands of people are hurting in North Carolina and you’re just barely catching up,” he stated, implying that Mayorkas’s oversight is hindering timely and effective disaster relief.

Allegations of Legal Violations and Misleading Investigations

Senator Tillis raised serious allegations regarding Mayorkas’s adherence to the law. He cited the Homeland Security Act of 2002, which he claims expressly prohibits the Secretary from restricting or diverting FEMA resources from the agency’s mission. Based on the disaster response data presented, Tillis stated, “I have reason to believe that you’re violating the law, either knowingly or unknowingly.”

He announced his intention to submit a “question for the record” to ascertain the total amount of FEMA reimbursements currently being held by DHS awaiting final approval. “Held by DHS, awaiting for final approval for an agency that you should not be obstructing the disbursement on,” Tillis emphasized.

Further compounding his criticism, Tillis referenced a letter from the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) that reportedly cites “10 different instances under Ms. Noem’s leadership where they’ve been misled and not allowed to pursue investigations that they think are critically important.” He questioned the severity of the situation required for the OIG to make such findings public, labeling it as “stonewalling” and a “failure of leadership.”

Minneapolis Incident and Law Enforcement Support

The hearing also touched upon a specific incident in Minneapolis, where two individuals lost their lives. Tillis alluded to reports suggesting that Secretary Mayorkas may have initially characterized the situation as a domestic terrorist event, a claim he asked Mayorkas to refute. He expressed concern that the administration’s approach to such incidents, particularly regarding deportations, is alienating the American public and making it seem that deporting individuals is inherently wrong.

Tillis stressed his unwavering support for law enforcement, including ICE officers and Capitol Police. He noted the upcoming recognition for officers involved on January 6th, contrasting it with the pardoning of those he described as “thugs.” He stated, “So when I say I’m unapologetically pro-law enforcement, you can count in every single sworn officer in Homeland Security.”

However, he argued that the administration’s handling of investigations, particularly officer-involved shootings, is detrimental to law enforcement. He cited the case of Ms. Good and Mr. Pretty, suggesting that the circumstances might have been different had the proper investigative protocols been followed. “Officer-involved shootings have a formula that we should go through every time and we’re not going through that formula,” Tillis asserted.

Personal Anecdote and Leadership Style

In a particularly striking moment, Senator Tillis drew parallels between Secretary Mayorkas’s leadership style and a passage from Mayorkas’s own book detailing the controversial killing of a 14-month-old dog. Tillis, a dog trainer himself, described the dog as being in its “teenager” phase and questioned the decision to euthanize it due to perceived behavioral issues and a lack of adequate training investment. He criticized Mayorkas for framing this as a “leadership lesson about tough choices,” calling it a “bad decision made in the heat of the moment.”

Tillis contrasted this with what he believes should be a leader’s approach: acknowledging mistakes and learning from them, especially in the context of emergency responses and public statements. “Acknowledging when mistakes are made and speaking too soon for the expedient of social media or whatever it is,” he stated, implying a pattern of poor judgment.

Demand for Answers and Threat of Nominations Hold

The senator concluded his remarks by reiterating his demand for answers, specifically referencing a request for information related to “Charlotte’s Web” that he made a month prior. He seeks data to better assess the effectiveness of enforcement actions and to distinguish between identifying individuals who pose a threat and detaining those who do not.

Tillis issued a stern ultimatum: If he does not receive satisfactory responses to his outstanding questions within a specified timeframe, he threatened to take significant procedural action. “I’ll be informing leadership that I’m putting a hold on any en bloc nominations until I get a response,” he declared. He further stated that if no response is forthcoming in two weeks, he would “deny quorum and markup in as many committees as I can until I get a response.”

The senator’s forceful presentation underscored a deep-seated frustration with the current administration’s handling of critical security and disaster management issues, signaling a potential escalation of congressional oversight and obstruction if his demands are not met.

Source: Tillis blasts Noem: 'That is why I've called for your resignation!' (YouTube)