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4w ago

Trump Administration Moves to Eliminate FEMA as Bipartisan Opposition Grows

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirms plans to dismantle FEMA, citing inefficiency, while critics warn of severe consequences for disaster response.

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Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem visits with Coast Guardsmen, flys in an HC-130, and conducts a firefighting simulation at Coast Guard Base Kodiak, in Kodiak, Alaska, March 17, 2025. (DHS photo by Mikaela McGee)
People impacted by the wildfires seek information and relief at a FEMA Disaster Recovery Center at Pasadena City College Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Etienne Laurent)

Overview

  • Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced plans to eliminate FEMA during a Cabinet meeting, aligning with President Trump's long-standing criticisms of the agency.
  • FEMA faces operational paralysis, including a hiring freeze and frozen disaster relief funds, which jeopardize its ability to prepare for the upcoming hurricane season.
  • A bipartisan bill has been introduced in Congress to make FEMA an independent, Cabinet-level agency, as opposition to its elimination intensifies.
  • Experts warn that dismantling FEMA would disproportionately harm disaster-prone and poorer states, increasing vulnerabilities during crises.
  • The Trump administration's review of FEMA operations has drawn criticism, with calls for reforming and strengthening the agency rather than dismantling it.