Overview

• President Trump has suggested eliminating FEMA, advocating for state-led disaster relief, but Acting Administrator Cameron Hamilton testified against this idea, calling it not in the best interest of the public.
• Hamilton proposed narrowing FEMA's role to assisting states only when disasters exceed their capacity, citing concerns about overreliance on federal resources.
• The White House is pushing for a $646 million budget cut for FEMA, raising concerns about preparedness as extreme weather events increase in frequency and severity.
• At least 2,000 FEMA employees have left or plan to leave, exacerbating staffing challenges as disaster relief funding runs low ahead of hurricane season.
• Democrats warn that eliminating or significantly reducing FEMA's role would endanger vulnerable communities, while some Republicans argue for greater state and local control over disaster recovery efforts.