India, July 12 -- Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is facing intense scrutiny after a report revealed that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) waited three days to deploy search and rescue teams following catastrophic flooding in central Texas.

Noem, whose department oversees FEMA, recently implemented a policy requiring her personal sign-off for any spending exceeding $100,000. This i a part of a broader cost-cutting initiative. However, according to CNN, this policy may have significantly delayed FEMA's disaster response.

"We were operating under a clear set of guidance: lean forward, be prepared, anticipate what the state needs, and be ready to deliver it," a longtime FEMA official told CNN. "That is not as clear of...