Trump Administration Confirms Plan to Eliminate FEMA, Prompting Bipartisan Pushback

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the decision as wildfires devastate the Carolinas, raising concerns about disaster preparedness ahead of hurricane season.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed the Trump administration's plans to eliminate FEMA during a Cabinet meeting this week.
The administration argues that disaster recovery is best handled by state and local governments, criticizing FEMA for inefficiency and bureaucracy.
Bipartisan legislation has been introduced to make FEMA an independent, Cabinet-level agency, though its passage remains uncertain.
Critics warn that dismantling FEMA could leave disaster-prone and poorer states, such as Mississippi and Alabama, especially vulnerable during crises.
FEMA's operational capacity is already strained due to workforce cuts, frozen funds, and ongoing reviews, as wildfires rage in the Carolinas and hurricane season looms.