Is FEMA going to disapear? Here's what Trump says about its future
President Trump announces plans to phase out FEMA after the 2025 hurricane season, shifting disaster response responsibility to states.
On Tuesday, June 10, President Donald Trump announced his plans to phase out the Federal Emergency Management Agency, better known as FEMA, after the 2025 hurricane season. After the agency is dismantled, the responsibility will shift to the states for response and recovery.
Reporters at the Oval Office were told that the plan was to "wean off" FEMA. According to U.S. President Donald Trump, “A governor should be able to handle it, and frankly, if they can’t handle it, the aftermath, then maybe they shouldn’t be governor.”
What's the impact of Trump’s plan to dismantle FEMA?
For starters, the U.S. president stated that the funds given by the federal government for aid and disaster recovery will instead come from the president's office. However, it is predicted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), that the hurricane season for this year will be particularly difficult and potentially deadly.
Federal and state emergency managers have been bewildered by these plans, as it is very unlikely that FEMA's disaster response could be adequately fulfilled by local efforts, even with federal financial support, in the most difficult situations.
“It is clear from the president’s remarks that their plan is to limp through hurricane season and then dismantle the agency,” according to the statement of a longtime FEMA leader for CNN.
How the Trump administration has weakened FEMA’s capacity?
This year, hurricane season has seen the Federal Emergency Management Agency, understaffed and underprepared. Over,10% of their total staff have left since January, including most part of the senior staff. Additionally, FEMA is expected to lose 30% of their workforce by the end of the year.
The changes in the administration have also contributed to the diminishing influence of the agency. David Richardson, a former marine veteran and martial-arts instructor, was appointed by Kristi Noem, as FEMA leader. One of the first things in his leadership was to bring more than half-dozen DHS officials to help him run the agency, as he was previously from the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction office from the Department of Homeland Security.
