DHS head Kristi Noem refuted a CNN report that her requirement for personal sign-off on DHS contracts over $100,000 slowed emergency response to deadly Texas flooding.

President Donald Trump dismissed reports that his homeland security chief waited days to sign off on desperately needed disaster relief in Texas based on the fact that she was the “first one” he saw on television.

According to a new report Secretary Noem did not sign off on deploying FEMA’s urban search and rescue team to Texas until this Monday—more than three days after the floods struck. In the meantime, she was on Instagram crowd sourcing opinions about her official portrait.

President Donald Trump's ally and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem is facing intense criticism over her handling of deadly Texas flood that has killed over 100 people. Initially, Noem said there was a need to eliminate FEMA.

Noem ordered that every FEMA contract and grant worth that exceeds $100,000 must cross her desk for approval, CNN reported in June. The latest reporting by the outlet insinuated that this rule “stripped [FEMA] of much of its autonomy” during the flood, which raged across at least six counties and killed over 120 people in the early hours of July 4.

Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem's voice broke as she recounted her emotional visit to Camp Mystic in Texas.

Republicans, such as Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, have largely responded to the crisis by demonstrating loyalty to Donald Trump and praising him for his federal aid. However, disgruntled citizens have called out Noem for her performative empathy toward the people in crisis.

S an Antonio anchor Stephania Jimenez fumed Saturday over a press conference that featured Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott thanking each other and President Donald Trump instead of giving immediate updates on the lethal floods in central Texas.

President Donald Trump is visiting Texas on Friday to assess catastrophic flooding that has killed at least 120 people