FEMA's Shadow Administrator: Contractor Targeted Muslim Groups and California Under Noem's Leadership
During Kristi Noem's tenure as Department of Homeland Security secretary, an obscure government contractor emerged as the "shadow administrator" of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, according to a new report. Kara Voorhies, a DHS contractor with no emergency management experience, exerted outsized control over FEMA's spending, scrutinizing every grant and directing staff to cancel those that she opposed, The Washington Post reported.
Targeted Funding Decisions
Voorhies specifically targeted funds allocated towards:
- Muslim groups
- Diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives
- Climate change programs
- The entire state of California
She moved to block Muslim groups from receiving security funding and tried to cut off California from FEMA funding due to its sanctuary status for immigrants. While coordinating with the Department of Government Efficiency, run by Elon Musk, Voorhies axed federal grants that mentioned "climate change, social media, diversity, equity or inclusion," a senior official told The Washington Post.
Unprecedented Access and Influence
Voorhies, whose background is in financial consulting, emerged "out of nowhere" at FEMA in spring 2025, according to the Post. She quickly became a key power broker, working closely with Corey Lewandowski, Noem's top aide and rumored romantic partner. Voorhies participated in high-level meetings and was permitted to view proprietary government information, including specifics about projects and major contracts.
"We were told to give her access to whatever she wanted," a senior official told The Post. Despite her deep involvement at the agency, many of the people who worked with her were not aware she was a contractor. Federal regulations require government contractors to identify themselves during conversations and in correspondence—which Voorhies purportedly did not do in some instances.
Questionable Management During Crises
Multiple FEMA officials were alarmed by Voorhies' management approach, particularly after Texas suffered catastrophic floods last July that killed at least 135 people, including dozens of young children. As the federal government worked to provide assistance to responders, Voorhies "questioned the need for those resources," The Washington Post reported. Voorhies later allowed a funding request to go forward, which was approved.
After Noem demanded that all contracts worth over $100,000 be approved by DHS leadership, Voorhies instituted a line-by-line review of every existing contract and grant, a process multiple officials described as "chaotic." "In 20 years I have never seen this done," a former senior official said. "This was a huge shift."
Investigation and Aftermath
Noem, Lewandowski and Voorhies are under investigation by DHS's inspector general, including over their handling of contracts, according to reports. Officials with the DHS inspector general have seized documents from Voorhies' office, and investigators are looking into her handling of FEMA contracts. Also reportedly under review is her compensation, which may have been as high as $19,000 per week or $1 million per year.
Noem was fired March 5 by President Donald Trump following controversies including deaths during ICE's immigration crackdown in Minneapolis and scrutiny of $200 million spent on an ad campaign featuring Noem on horseback before Mount Rushmore. On March 26, Trump administration lawyers said in a court filing that Voorhies "is no longer employed by or serving as a contractor with DHS or FEMA."
Noem, who now works as "Special Envoy for the Shield of the Americas" focused on security in the Western Hemisphere, has been replaced by former Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin. The new DHS boss quickly scrapped Noem's $100,000 contract review rule. Mullin "has the opportunity to be like a prince or knight in shining armor as he comes riding over the hill and saves everybody from this freaking chaos," a senior DHS official told The Washington Examiner.
