When Hurricane Ian slammed into Naples, Florida, in 2022, it left behind a trail of devastation, including the destruction of the city’s beloved historic pier. For months, the city’s efforts to rebuild the iconic structure seemed hopelessly mired in red tape, with federal disaster aid from FEMA nowhere in sight. But in a sudden turn of events this September, more than $11 million in federal funds were fast-tracked to Naples—sparking questions about political favoritism, donor influence, and the power wielded by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
According to ProPublica, city officials in Naples had spent months pleading with FEMA for the money needed to restore the pier, a tourist magnet that once drew over a million visitors each year. Their frustration was echoed by officials from other disaster-stricken regions, including central Texas and North Carolina, who were also waiting for FEMA to release urgently needed aid. Senator Ted Budd of North Carolina summed up the mounting exasperation, telling a newspaper, “I can’t get phone calls back. I can’t get them to initiate the money. It’s just a quagmire.”
The bottleneck, as reported by multiple sources including RadarOnline.com, stemmed in part from a new Department of Homeland Security policy. Under the policy, Noem herself must sign off on any FEMA expense over $100,000—a move she has defended as a necessary safeguard against waste, but which critics argue has left a backlog of critical projects awaiting her signature. “Pretty much everything Helene-related is over $100,000,” Budd explained, referencing another disaster. “So they’re stacking up on her desk waiting for her signature.”
Amid the mounting frustration, Naples Mayor Teresa Heitmann decided to try a different approach. As described in emails and text messages obtained by ProPublica, Heitmann reached out to Sinan Gursoy, a prominent local cardiologist and major donor to Noem’s 2022 gubernatorial campaign. Gursoy had given at least $25,000 to support Noem, putting him near the top of her donor list despite having no clear ties to South Dakota beyond his political contributions. “Hello it’s Teresa,” the mayor texted Gursoy in early August. “I really need your help.”
Gursoy responded quickly, telling the mayor he would get in touch with Noem. “Kristi was off for a few days for the first time in a long time, so I left her alone,” he said in one message. “I just txted her now.” Within 24 hours, Gursoy reported that the city should expect a call from Noem’s “FEMA fixer.” Sure enough, by late August, FEMA staffers were promising to expedite funding for the pier. A city official wrote in an email, “We are now at warp speed with FEMA.”
On September 29, Noem herself flew to Naples on a government plane, toured the pier with the mayor, and then stayed through the weekend at the four-star Naples Bay Resort & Marina. She also dined with Gursoy at the upscale French restaurant Bleu Provence, according to records and interviews cited by ProPublica. The sudden turnaround left city officials celebrating their “sudden change of fortune.”
While Naples rejoiced, others looked on with skepticism. The proximity of the pier to the home of Corey Lewandowski—Noem’s top adviser at DHS and rumored romantic partner—raised eyebrows. Lewandowski, a former Trump campaign manager, owns a home just a few miles from the pier. Media reports have long speculated about a relationship between the two, though both have denied any romantic involvement. Lewandowski told ProPublica he was not involved in the pier decision and was not in Naples during Noem’s visit.
Critics, however, see the episode as a glaring example of political favoritism in the distribution of federal disaster relief. Jeffrey Schlegelmilch, director of the National Center for Disaster Preparedness at Columbia University, told ProPublica, “I’ve not heard of anything this egregious—a donor calling up and saying I need help and getting it, while others may be getting denied assistance or otherwise waiting in line for help that may or may not come.”
Noem’s office has pushed back on the allegations. Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, insisted in statements to ProPublica and RadarOnline.com that Noem’s actions were not politically motivated. “This has nothing to do with politics: Secretary Noem also visited Ruidoso, New Mexico, at the request of a Democrat governor and has been integral in supporting and speeding up their recovery efforts,” McLaughlin stated. She added, “Your criticizing the Secretary’s visit to the Pier is bizarre as she works to fix this issue for more than 1 million visitors that used to visit the pier.”
Indeed, Noem did travel to Ruidoso, New Mexico, after devastating floods killed three people in July 2025, and she has been credited with expediting recovery efforts there as well. But critics argue that the selective speed with which some projects have been approved—especially when donors are involved—undermines the fairness and integrity of the disaster relief process.
The controversy has also been fueled by Noem’s personal style and public persona. Known as “ICE Barbie” in some circles, she has drawn criticism for what some see as self-promotional behavior and “cosplay” photo-ops. Conservative commentator Megyn Kelly did not mince words, saying, “Stop trying to glamorize the mission and put yourself in the middle of it as you cosplay ICE agent, which you’re not. I can’t stand these photo-ops.” Kelly continued, “She is an administrative policy person appointed by Trump because she was very loyal to him. Fine, but stop with the glam.”
For her part, Noem has repeatedly defended her approach to FEMA spending. She argues that her personal sign-off on large expenses has saved billions of taxpayer dollars and ensured that funds are used appropriately. “Every day I get up and I think, the American people are paying for this, should they?” Noem said. “And are these dollars doing what the law says they should be doing? I’m going to make sure that they go there.”
Still, the perception of donor-driven decision-making has left a sour taste for many. Naples, once a sleepy fishing town, is now a wealthy enclave known for Republican fundraising, and Noem has visited the city at least ten times during her tenure as South Dakota governor, according to state credit card records. The fact that a well-connected donor could help leapfrog a project over others in desperate need has only intensified scrutiny of the system.
As the dust settles in Naples and the pier rebuild finally gets underway, the questions linger. Was this a case of efficient government responding to a community in need—or a troubling example of political connections trumping process? For the many communities still waiting on disaster relief, the answer may feel all too clear.