Chalk on the pavement saying Climate Crisis equals Human Rights Crisis.

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FEMA shutters youth climate council amid broader agency cutbacks

Teen advocates for climate resilience were left without warning or explanation when the Federal Emergency Management Agency disbanded its Youth Preparedness Council earlier this month.

Gabriela Aoun Angueira reports for The Associated Press.

In short:

FEMA canceled the annual summit and abruptly ended communications with its Youth Preparedness Council before officially terminating the 13-year-old program on August 1.
The move follows sweeping cuts under President Trump’s second term, including reduced FEMA staffing, canceled emergency training, and the early exit of 2,000 AmeriCorps disaster service members.
Critics warn that dismantling youth programs weakens the pipeline for future emergency managers and sidelines young leaders already organizing for climate resilience in their communities.

Key quote:

“We were putting so much time and effort into this space, and now it’s fully gutted.”

— Ashton Dolce, former FEMA Youth Preparedness Council member

Why this matters:

Young people often play vital roles in grassroots organizing, digital communication, and peer-led resilience efforts, especially in communities hit hardest by floods, fires, and extreme heat. Training and investing in the next generation helps mobilize capable responders now. Without federal support, however, local communities must shoulder more of the burden, often without the resources or personnel to do so. Cutting the FEMA Youth Preparedness Council also reflects a shift away from inclusive disaster policy at a time when environmental hazards are escalating rapidly.

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