Sources have said FEMA wasn’t authorized to launch search and rescue teams until 72 hours after flooding began.

Secretary Kristi Noem struck back at CNN on Thursday after it accused her of slowing the process of responding to the Texas flood. CNN reported in its article, “FEMA’s response to Texas slowed by Noem’s cost controls,

FEMA reportedly didn't deploy key assets to the area until Monday due to a new rule requiring Noem to personally sign off on large expenditures.