Trump administration considers overhauling FEMA’s role in disaster relief
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said she would advise President Donald Trump to dismantle the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in its current form and give local officials more control over disaster aid distribution.
Ian Duncan reports for The Washington Post.
In short:
- Noem said on CNN that FEMA should be restructured to allow local officials to decide how federal disaster aid is allocated.
- Trump has ordered a review of FEMA, with some officials proposing block grants to states instead of direct federal management.
- Any major changes would likely face legal challenges, as FEMA was created by executive order and later established in law by Congress.
Key quote:
“We still need the resources and the funds and the finances to go to people that have these types of disasters, like Hurricane Helene and the fires in California. But you need to let the local officials make the decisions on how that is deployed, so it can be deployed much quicker.”
— Kristi Noem, U.S. Department of Homeland Security secretary
Why this matters:
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has long been a cornerstone of the United States' disaster response system, offering crucial aid to communities struck by hurricanes, wildfires, floods and other calamities. However, debates about the agency’s effectiveness and whether control of disaster response should be shifted to individual states have gained traction. Advocates for decentralizing disaster management argue that allowing states to take the lead could streamline operations and reduce delays in critical moments. Others question whether states have the resources to execute effective and equitable disaster relief, suggesting reform rather than elimination of the agency.
Related: Trump’s plan to dismantle FEMA meets Republican resistance
