An illustration of houses and cars under flood waters during a rainstorm.

Flood mapping reforms stall as Trump disbands FEMA advisory group

A federal committee poised to overhaul how the U.S. assesses flood risks was quietly dissolved by the Trump administration in January, halting key updates to outdated Federal Emergency Management Agency flood maps.

Anna Kramer reports for NOTUS.

In short:

FEMA's Technical Mapping Advisory Committee, which guided national flood map updates, was disbanded under President Trump in early 2025.
The committee had nearly completed its 2024 report, which aimed to improve the accuracy of flood risk data amid rising sea levels and extreme weather, but the report was never released.
Trump’s order eliminated all Department of Homeland Security advisory committees, leaving FEMA without expert input as climate-related flood risks increase.

Key quote:

“This is a group of seasoned professional people. They don’t have an axe to grind, there’s not a political issue.

— Glenn Heistand, University of Illinois water resources engineer

Why this matters:

Flood maps shape where homes are built, how insurance is priced, and who is required to buy it. But many maps are outdated or incomplete, failing to reflect modern flood patterns driven by climate change. When advisory panels like FEMA’s are dismantled, it stalls the technical work needed to modernize these tools, leaving communities blind to growing risks. With hurricanes intensifying and rainfall patterns shifting, inaccurate maps can lead to unprepared towns and uninsured homeowners. Without federal support, states and cities must fend for themselves — often with fewer resources and inconsistent standards — while new developments continue rising in harm’s way.

www.notus.org

Flood mapping reforms stall as Trump disbands FEMA advisory group

Extreme heat and humidity reshape Iowa’s iconic cross-state bike ride

Climate shifts force travelers to rethink the best times to travel abroad

How rising temperatures are putting children and pregnant women at risk

Heat drives push for workplace safety rules as summer temps soar

Environmental groups sue Trump administration over secretive climate science report

Oil drilling and water scarcity push Iraq’s famed wetlands to collapse

Clean hydrogen faces economic and political roadblocks in the U.S.

Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

One facility has emitted cancer-causing chemicals into waterways at levels up to 520% higher than legal limits.

Pennsylvania health advocates say Trump’s first 100 days in office have caused “100 harms” to local communities

“They're terrorizing these scientists because they want to keep them silent.”

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

"The reality is, we are not exposed to one chemical at a time.”

Two years into his term, has Gov. Shapiro kept his promises to regulate Pennsylvania’s fracking industry?

A new report assesses the administration’s progress and makes new recommendations

An open letter from EPA staff to the American public

“We cannot stand by and allow this to happen. We need to hold this administration accountable.”

New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.