During a House Homeland Security Committee hearing on Tuesday, Rep. Tim Kennedy (D-NY) spoke of his disapproval for recent actions from the Trump administration.
Fuel your success with Forbes. Gain unlimited access to premium journalism, including breaking news, groundbreaking in-depth reported stories, daily digests and more. Plus, members get a front-row seat at members-only events with leading thinkers and doers, access to premium video that can help you get ahead, an ad-light experience, early access to select products including NFT drops and more:
https://account.forbes.com/membership/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=growth_non-sub_paid_subscribe_ytdescript
Stay Connected
Forbes on Facebook: http://fb.com/forbes
Forbes Video on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/forbes
Forbes Video on Instagram: http://instagram.com/forbes
More From Forbes: http://forbes.com
Fuel your success with Forbes. Gain unlimited access to premium journalism, including breaking news, groundbreaking in-depth reported stories, daily digests and more. Plus, members get a front-row seat at members-only events with leading thinkers and doers, access to premium video that can help you get ahead, an ad-light experience, early access to select products including NFT drops and more:
https://account.forbes.com/membership/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=growth_non-sub_paid_subscribe_ytdescript
Stay Connected
Forbes on Facebook: http://fb.com/forbes
Forbes Video on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/forbes
Forbes Video on Instagram: http://instagram.com/forbes
More From Forbes: http://forbes.com
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00Thank you, Chairman Strong. I now recognize the ranking member for the
00:04Subcommittee on Emergency Management and Technology, the gentleman from New
00:08York, Mr. Kennedy, for his opening statement. Thank you, Chairman, and also
00:16thanks to my fellow ranking members. Good afternoon. Thank you to each and every
00:22one of you for being here today to discuss the use of unmanned aerial
00:26systems by the Department of Homeland Security. However, I want to begin by
00:30discussing the alarming remarks and actions by the White House and the
00:35Department of Homeland Security Secretary Nome. Just last week, Secretary
00:40Nome stated on national television that, quote, we are going to eliminate FEMA,
00:46end quote. This, disturbingly, received immediate praise from President Trump.
00:54Reportedly, Secretary Nome is in active discussions with FEMA
01:01leadership about dismantling the agency by October 1st, a reckless move that
01:08could leave millions of Americans vulnerable to the impacts of natural
01:12disasters like hurricanes, tornadoes, winter storms, wildfires, and floods
01:20without any federal assistance. It's deeply concerning that today's hearing
01:26isn't solely focused on holding this administration accountable for its plans
01:30to dismantle the only federal agency solely dedicated to assisting Americans
01:34in the aftermath of disasters. I encourage my Republican colleagues, many
01:40of whom have had disasters in their districts, to take action to prevent this
01:45administration from doing irreparable harm to the American people by
01:49dismantling FEMA. While today's hearing is about drones, the unfortunate reality
01:54is that the Trump White House continues to create obstacles that jeopardize the
01:59very programs that we're discussing. The Department of Homeland Security's
02:03Science and Technology Directorate has played a crucial role in integrating
02:07unmanned aerial systems into national security and emergency response efforts.
02:13However, the reckless mass firings by Elon Musk and President Trump have
02:17hindered S&T's workforce and its capacity to innovate and lead. At the
02:23same time, the administration's freeze on federal grants, which is being carried
02:27out in violation of court orders, has left communities and first responders
02:32unable to secure the vital funding needed for acquiring and deploying drone
02:38technology. Grant funding from the Department of Homeland Security has been
02:43instrumental in funding local law enforcement seeking to adopt drone
02:47technology. However, under Republican House leadership, we've seen a 10%
02:52reduction in DHS grant programs in fiscal year 24, followed by similarly
02:58inadequate funding levels in fiscal year 25. This has significantly hampered local
03:04agencies' ability to acquire critical technology like drones. This is
03:08especially impactful for Western New Yorkers, the people I represent, where
03:13emergency services, law enforcement, fire departments, and other agencies rely on
03:18federal grant funding to deploy drone technologies in disaster response. I can
03:25name many different examples of this, but first responders are oftentimes
03:31utilizing drone technology in critical missions in my community. For instance,
03:37late last year, Buffalo Police used drones during extremely cold temperatures to
03:43locate and rescue a man who had become disoriented in the snow, bringing him to
03:47safety. Without adequate funding, local agencies may be unable to respond to
03:53future emergencies as effectively as they otherwise could. Ensuring our local
03:57agencies are equipped and funded is not just a matter of policy, but a commitment
04:02to the safety and resilience of our communities. I look forward to discussing
04:06today how we can promote responsible law enforcement use of drones to equip our
04:11first responders with the tools they need to protect and serve effectively. I
04:16thank you all for your testimony and your service and look forward to hearing
04:20from you. With that, I yield back. Thank you, Chairman.