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Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem appeared before the Senate Homeland Security Committee today, doubling down on her push to dramatically reform the agency.Watch the story in the video aboveSecretary Noem pledged to expedite federal aid to Missouri following last week’s devastating storms, responding directly to questioning from Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO)."We promise and pledged to get that expedited as quickly as possible," Noem told lawmakers.But her assurances come amid ongoing turmoil at the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The agency’s former acting administrator, Cameron Hamilton, was ousted after publicly opposing President Trump’s proposal to dismantle FEMA. His replacement, acting Administrator David Richardson, is expected to unveil new policy guidelines which could include increased cost-sharing requirements for states and a policy shift toward FEMA only coordinating federal assistance "when deemed necessary."Critics warn the moves could undercut disaster relief at a time when more Americans are relying on federal assistance in the wake of severe weather events.Already, the Trump administration has denied FEMA aid for a windstorm in Washington State, flooding in West Virginia and extending cleanup efforts tied to Hurricane Helene in North Carolina. Additionally, a disaster relief request from Mississippi following deadly tornadoes in March has sat pending for weeks."You almost feel like you've been forgotten," said Dan Hawn, Circuit Clerk for Walthall County, Mississippi, where tornadoes destroyed hundreds of homes and killed seven people. The state’s governor submitted a federal disaster request on April 1, but it has not yet received a response."We are asking the federal government for any help ... to help clean these places, to help the people get their lives back," Hawn said.FEMA did not respond to our request for comment.FEMA has lost nearly a third of its full-time staff since the beginning of the Trump administration.