Kristi Noem’s time as Secretary of Homeland Security saw the rise of Kara Voorhies, a contractor with no background in emergency management, who became a significant influence within FEMA, as detailed in a recent report.
Voorhies, described as a “shadow administrator,” scrutinized FEMA's financial allocations, particularly targeting grants for Muslim organizations and initiatives related to diversity and climate change. “We were told to give her access to whatever she wanted,” a senior official disclosed, highlighting her unusual authority.
Upon her arrival at FEMA in spring 2025, it was evident that Voorhies was closely aligned with Corey Lewandowski, Noem’s chief aide. Their shared ideological stance was reflected in her directives, which many current and former officials noted were consistent with Noem and Lewandowski’s priorities.
Noem’s dismissal by President Trump on March 5 followed a series of controversies, including the fallout from ICE operations in Minneapolis and scrutiny over a $200 million ad campaign featuring her image. Investigations into Noem, Lewandowski, and Voorhies are currently underway by the DHS inspector general.
Attempts to reach Voorhies for comment were unsuccessful, as were inquiries directed at DHS and the State Department. Lewandowski denied any personal gain from DHS contracts after stepping down from his position.
Emerging from a financial consulting background, Voorhies quickly became a pivotal figure at FEMA, reportedly earning up to $1 million annually. Following Noem’s directive for all contracts exceeding $100,000 to receive DHS approval, she implemented a chaotic line-by-line review of existing agreements.
In collaboration with the Department of Government Efficiency led by Elon Musk, she eliminated federal grants associated with “climate change” and “diversity.” Alarmingly, she sought to block funding for Muslim groups and attempted to cut off FEMA assistance to California due to its sanctuary policies.
Her management style raised red flags among FEMA officials, especially after Texas experienced devastating floods last July that resulted in over 135 fatalities. During the federal response efforts, Voorhies reportedly questioned the necessity of resources allocated for assistance.
In June 2025, she became involved in establishing Alligator Alcatraz, an immigration detention facility in Florida facing allegations of detainee mistreatment. “She drove many of the conversations and approvals,” a former senior official remarked.
Despite her significant role at FEMA, many colleagues were unaware of her contractor status. Federal regulations mandate that contractors identify themselves; however, Voorhies allegedly did not always comply. This lack of transparency is unusual for contractors who typically do not engage in contract distribution or spending decisions.
“In 20 years I have never seen this done,” stated a former senior official. “This was a huge shift.”
As Noem’s tenure drew to a close, scrutiny intensified around Voorhies. Senator Thom Tillis raised concerns during a Senate hearing about the delegation of FEMA responsibilities to an outside contractor.
.jpg)
On March 26, shortly after Noem's firing, Trump administration lawyers confirmed that Voorhies was no longer affiliated with DHS or FEMA. Just two days later, reports surfaced that investigators had seized documents from her office as part of an inquiry into her management of FEMA contracts and her compensation, which may have reached $19,000 weekly.
Noem has since transitioned to the role of Special Envoy for the Shield of the Americas while Markwayne Mullin has taken over as DHS head. He promptly rescinded Noem’s contract review policy.
Mullin is seen as having the potential to restore order within DHS. “All he has to do is put things back in a normal order,” remarked a senior official.
