Congress proposes major reforms to FEMA in bid to counter Trump cuts

A bipartisan House effort seeks to restructure the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) into an independent agency and expand its powers amid President Trump’s push to shrink or eliminate it.

Thomas Frank reports for E&E News.

In short:

A bipartisan House bill would remove FEMA from the Department of Homeland Security and elevate it to a Cabinet-level agency, giving it direct access to the president.
The proposal would allow FEMA to fund permanent repairs for disaster-damaged homes and penalize states that fail to implement disaster mitigation efforts.
The legislation aims to challenge President Trump’s moves to weaken FEMA, including his cancellation of a major disaster preparedness grant program.

Key quote:

“I do not believe it is in the best interests of the American people to eliminate the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Having said that, I’m not in a position to make a decision.”

— Cameron Hamilton, former acting administrator of FEMA, who was fired on Thursday following this statement.

Why this matters:

Federal disaster relief shapes how communities respond to wildfires, hurricanes, floods, and other climate-driven disasters — and how quickly they recover. FEMA has long been a lifeline for vulnerable populations, including low-income families and rural communities without insurance, who struggle to rebuild after catastrophe. Turning FEMA into a more independent agency with broader authority to make permanent repairs could mean less dependence on costly temporary housing and faster stabilization for displaced residents. But President Trump’s plans to shrink or abolish FEMA reflect a broader ideological shift toward state-centered disaster response, which critics warn could widen disparities in recovery.

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California mining company turns to solar heat but can’t quit coal just yet

In California’s Mojave Desert, a mining plant is turning to solar thermal energy to replace one of its coal-fired generators, but a second unit may run for years due to the intense heat and 24-hour power it needs.

Ivan Penn reports for The New York Times.

In short:

Searles Valley Minerals, a mining company in Trona, Calif., is replacing one of its two coal plants with a solar thermal system but says the other may need to stay online for the foreseeable future due to operational demands.
The company will use a concentrating solar power system from start-up GlassPoint, which uses mirrors to generate high heat, a solution that works well in hot, sunny areas but requires a large land footprint and remains rare in the U.S.
Despite California’s push to phase out coal and President Trump’s efforts to revive it, economic and geographic constraints continue to complicate full industrial transitions away from fossil fuels.

Key quote:

“We just think coal is going to be a problem. We’re going to have a hard time sourcing it. We need to be ready to pivot.”

— Dennis Cruise, president of Searles Valley Minerals

Why this matters:

Industrial heat — the kind used in mining, chemical production, and heavy manufacturing — accounts for about half of global energy use, yet it’s rarely mentioned in public climate debates. Unlike home heating or car travel, generating this level of heat without fossil fuels is still tough. Most renewable energy technologies don’t deliver the extreme, continuous heat these facilities need. That leaves industries like the one in Trona stuck with coal, even as it becomes harder to source and politically unpopular. As the U.S. attempts to decarbonize, industrial energy needs present one of the biggest hurdles.

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