Newsom Criticizes Noem as ‘Kosplay Barbie’ Over Ad Campaign, Urges DHS to Release Wildfire Funds

California Governor Gavin Newsom has demanded the Department of Homeland Security immediately release more than $500 million in stalled FEMA funding earmarked for Los Angeles wildfire recovery efforts, while criticizing former Secretary Kristi Noem’s controversial ad campaign.

In a strongly worded statement, Newsom accused Noem of prioritizing a $220 million taxpayer-funded advertising campaign featuring herself on horseback over critical disaster relief for communities devastated by wildfires.

“While Kristi Noem poured $220 million of taxpayer money into a political ad campaign featuring herself on horseback, more than $500 million in FEMA funding for LA fire recovery sat stalled on her desk,” Newsom said. “Families in Los Angeles shouldn’t have to wait while she and Donald Trump play politics.”

The Los Angeles wildfires that ravaged the region in early 2025 burned for weeks, destroying thousands of homes across areas including Pacific Palisades and Altadena. The blazes caused tens of billions of dollars in estimated damage, leaving many communities still struggling to rebuild more than a year later.

According to Newsom’s office, DHS under Noem’s leadership implemented a policy requiring her personal approval on every department contract, grant or disaster award exceeding $100,000. This included FEMA public assistance and hazard mitigation grants that had already been vetted by agency professionals but remained pending final authorization.

The governor’s office claims the procedural bottleneck has left more than $500 million tied to Los Angeles fire recovery in limbo, along with approximately $94 million in hazard mitigation funding for the region. These funds typically support critical recovery efforts such as rebuilding schools, repairing damaged infrastructure, and strengthening communities against future disasters.

The delays are having tangible impacts in canyon and foothill neighborhoods, particularly in areas above Pasadena and Altadena. Local officials report damaged park facilities, fenced-off trailheads, and temporary road repairs remain in place while municipal agencies await federal reimbursement that would allow permanent reconstruction to begin.

Noem’s tenure at the Department of Homeland Security was cut short by President Donald Trump following weeks of internal turmoil and two contentious congressional hearings. Even some Republicans had pressed her on alleged leadership missteps, including the controversial ad campaign, which Noem claimed had presidential approval.

Trump has since named Noem “Special Envoy for the Shield of the Americas,” a newly created diplomatic role that the president described as part of a broader Western Hemisphere security initiative. The White House has not yet detailed the full scope or responsibilities of this position.

Oklahoma Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin has been tapped to replace Noem as Homeland Security Secretary effective March 31, according to an announcement made by the president on his social media platform, Truth Social.

The funding impasse highlights the ongoing challenges faced by disaster-stricken communities caught in bureaucratic and political crossfire. For Los Angeles residents still recovering from the devastating wildfires, the delayed FEMA assistance represents more than just numbers on a balance sheet—it means prolonged displacement, incomplete infrastructure repairs, and continued vulnerability to future disasters.

Local emergency management experts note that timely disaster recovery funding is critical not only for rebuilding physical structures but also for restoring community resilience and economic stability in affected areas. The longer recovery funds remain stalled, the more expensive and complicated rebuilding efforts become.

As the leadership transition at DHS takes place, California officials hope the new administration will prioritize releasing the backlogged disaster recovery funds that communities across Los Angeles have been waiting for since the wildfires first struck.