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39m ago

FEMA Staff Warn of Eroded Capacity, Urge Congress to Elevate Agency

The letter says recent policy shifts paired with inexperienced appointees have unraveled post‑Katrina safeguards.

FILE - Camper's belongings sit outside one of Camp Mystic's cabins near the Guadalupe River after a flash flood swept through the area, July 7, 2025, in Hunt, Texas. (AP Photo/Eli Hartman, file)
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Stranded victims of Hurricane Katrina rest inside the Superdome in New Orleans, on September 2, 2005.

Overview

  • More than 180 current and former FEMA employees released the “Katrina Declaration” on Monday, with about 35 named signatories and roughly 146 anonymous, warning Congress of heightened disaster risk.
  • The signatories criticize acting FEMA leader David Richardson and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem as unqualified under the spirit of post‑Katrina standards and say leadership changes have weakened the agency.
  • Employees cite July’s deadly Texas floods to show operational breakdowns, including delayed search‑and‑rescue deployments, a lapsed call‑center contract, and a rule requiring Noem’s personal approval for spending above $100,000.
  • The letter details sharp workforce losses of about one‑third of FEMA’s permanent staff, cuts to mitigation and preparedness grants, and reassignment of personnel, arguing these moves undermine response capacity.
  • The group urges Congress to make FEMA an independent Cabinet‑level agency, insulate it from DHS oversight, and protect employees from politically motivated firings as hurricane season continues.