The Trump administration is intensifying its push to eliminate the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), signaling a dramatic shift in how the federal government approaches disaster relief. During a May 6 congressional hearing, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem reaffirmed that President Donald Trump believes FEMA should be abolished, citing what he views as persistent failures in the agency’s performance during major disasters.
The idea gained traction after Trump visited North Carolina in January to survey flood damage from Hurricane Helene, a storm that killed 248 people and caused nearly $79 billion in damage. “I think we’re going to recommend that FEMA go away,” Trump told reporters. Later in Los Angeles, devastated by wildfires causing up to $275 billion in damage, he added, “You don’t need FEMA. You need a good state government.”
Noem told lawmakers that Trump’s dissatisfaction with FEMA is rooted in delays and inefficiencies. “He believes FEMA and its response in many circumstances has failed the American people,” she said. She referenced the agency’s still-unresolved claims from Hurricane Katrina and multiple wildfires over the past decade. Instead of maintaining FEMA, the president wants to redirect funding through federal grants, allowing states to handle disaster response independently.
The proposal has triggered fierce opposition from Democrats and some disaster-prone states. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), ranking Democrat on the Appropriations Committee, challenged the administration’s plan, warning that eliminating FEMA would disproportionately harm vulnerable communities. “Federal disaster relief should be readily available across the United States, regardless of where you live,” she said. “Natural disasters happen everywhere.”
Rep. John Rutherford (R-FL), however, voiced support for reevaluating FEMA, citing years of delays in reimbursement after hurricanes. “Frustration levels are off the chart,” he said. “It’s not that FEMA shows up and everything’s OK. It’s quite the contrary, actually.”
Further complicating FEMA’s future are internal staffing issues. Amid sweeping federal workforce cuts, more than 2,000 of FEMA’s 6,100 employees have left or are planning to leave, according to former staff. This wave of departures follows federal layoffs and voluntary buyouts encouraged by the Department of Government Efficiency, led in part by billionaire Elon Musk.
In January, Trump signed an executive order establishing a review council to evaluate FEMA’s role. The council is examining whether FEMA should transition from a lead disaster agency to a supplemental support body, offering grants and technical assistance rather than direct operational control.
The debate highlights a deep philosophical divide over federalism and disaster response. Critics warn that wealthier states may manage on their own, but less-resourced states could struggle without federal coordination. The prospect of more frequent climate-driven disasters only raises the stakes of dismantling a centralized disaster response framework.
While Trump’s FEMA proposal has yet to take legislative form, the conversation has already shifted. Whether the agency is overhauled, downsized, or dismantled entirely, the outcome will have long-term consequences for how America prepares for and responds to natural disasters.
