HYDE-SMITH QUESTIONS HOMELAND SECRETARY ON FEMA FUTURE, CONTINUED MSU ROLE IN UAS PROJECT
Senate Homeland Security Appropriators Begin Review of FY2026 DHS Budget Request
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) today used a budget review hearing for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to getting a better handle on how President Trump’s plans to reform the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) could affect Mississippi, a state prone to weather-related disasters.
Hyde-Smith serves on the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee that today received testimony from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on her agency’s FY2026 budget request. The administration’s “skinny” budget request recommended a $646 million reduction for FEMA non-disaster grant programs. Overall, the FY2026 request recommends a $43.8 billion increase for DHS.
“I would like to briefly mention the proposed reductions to the FEMA budget. In Mississippi, we have hurricanes. We have tornadoes, and FEMA has been part of my life ever since I’ve been in public office,” Hyde-Smith said after noting Mississippi’s pending presidential disaster declaration request for damages caused by severe storms in March, particularly in Tylertown and Walthall County.
“How will DHS make sure that states like Mississippi, which, like I said, are feeling the impact of so many disasters, will continue to receive the support they need to prepare for and recover from what we have now and future emergencies,” the Senator asked Noem.
Noem, who will lead the President’s FEMA Review Council, said reforms will be guided on a belief that “the best responders are those locally and that the federal government should be there to support.”
“President Trump has been very clear that he believes that the way that FEMA exists today should not continue. It needs to be reformed. It needs to empower states to build in the structure that they need to best respond to disasters,” Noem said. “He wants to make sure that those reforms are happening – where states are empowered to do the response and trained and equipped, and then the federal government would come in and support them and financially be there when they need them on their worst day.”
Hyde-Smith also highlighted Mississippi’s contributions to homeland security, and sought to ensure support for contributions made by Mississippi State University to unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) development and testing under the Joint Unmanned Systems Testing in Collaborative Environment (Project JUSTICE).
“Mississippi has a proud legacy of supporting DHS missions across multiple domains. From helicopters flown by the Coast Guard and CBP, to the National Security Cutters and future Polar Security Cutters built in Pascagoula, Mississippi. So, our state plays a central role in securing the homeland,” Hyde-Smith said.
“As you may be aware, the DHS JUSTICE NextGen program at Mississippi State serves an incredibly valuable resource. The primary mission of this is to serve the operational entities within DHS through research, development, testing, integration and the evaluation of UAS – the unmanned aerial systems – and related technologies,” Hyde-Smith added. “The JUSTICE program has credited MSU with a number of developments that have enhanced the technology and the efficiency for the operational components so we’re really proud of that but as we look ahead I hope that you will view JUSTICE as an important effort.”
After earlier mentioning the agency’s need for more UAS technology, Noem confirmed the Department’s support for the JUSTICE program and partnerships with states.
“The JUSTICE program is very important and is being continued going forward,” Noem said. “That is something that Department of Homeland Security is very willing and able in the future to partner with you.”
The Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee hearing is part of the Senate Appropriations Committee goal to begin writing the 12 annual appropriations bills to fund federal activities in the new fiscal year, which begins October 1.
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