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Trump Seeks to Wean FEMA Off Disaster Relief, Prompting Concerns Over Political Favoritism

Lawmakers warn that shifting relief to states could favor politically aligned regions, weakening nationwide coordination.

Members of the FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Task Force search a flood damaged area with a search canine in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene along the Swannanoa River on October 4, 2024, in Asheville, North Carolina.
A person sits at a desk inside of a mobile FEMA command center after tornadoes ripped through several U.S. states in downtown Dawson Springs, Kentucky, U.S., December 14, 2021. REUTERS/Jon Cherry/File Photo
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U.S. President Donald Trump sits in the Oval Office at the White House, in Washington, D.C., U.S., on June 10, 2025.

Overview

  • Trump announced intent to reduce FEMA’s federal role and transfer disaster relief decision-making to governors.
  • He described FEMA as very expensive and ineffective, likening disaster response oversight to state-run education systems.
  • Bipartisan lawmakers and experts warn that state-controlled aid could be distributed unequally based on political affiliation.
  • Governors in resource-limited states express concern that reduced federal support will hamper preparedness and response capabilities.
  • Several legal challenges and congressional proposals seek to preserve FEMA’s centralized coordination as climate-driven disasters grow in frequency.