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FEMA Faces Leadership Upheaval and Workforce Cuts Ahead of Active Hurricane Season

New leadership, rescinded strategic guidance, and severe staffing losses raise concerns over FEMA's readiness as NOAA predicts an above-average storm season.

Image
From left, Stevie Kara and Hunter Chandler search for personal items in the rubble of their destroyed home in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, on March 15, after tornadoes and severe storms passed through the area.
A member of FEMA urban search and rescue team New York Task Force One is assisted by a civilian search and rescue team member as they hike along the Broad River in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene near Chimney Rock, North Carolina, in October 2024.
Employees monitor maps and data at the Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma, in 2019.

Overview

  • Acting FEMA Administrator David Richardson has rescinded the agency's 2022-2026 strategic plan, with a new plan for 2026-2030 expected this summer.
  • FEMA has lost 10% of its workforce since January and could see a total 30% reduction by year-end, significantly impacting its disaster response capacity.
  • NOAA forecasts an above-average 2025 hurricane season, with up to 19 named storms and 5 major hurricanes expected, intensifying concerns about FEMA's preparedness.
  • The Trump administration is pushing to shift disaster response responsibilities to states, with plans to downsize or dismantle FEMA entirely still under discussion.
  • FEMA has reopened training centers and extended staff contracts to address readiness gaps, but internal assessments suggest these measures may come too late for the upcoming season.