President Trump launches a plan to end FEMA, returning disaster management power to states while slashing federal disaster spending that had been misused to fund illegal immigration under previous administrations.
Key Takeaways
- President Trump will phase out FEMA after the 2025 hurricane season, shifting disaster response responsibilities to states and other federal agencies.
- Federal disaster aid funds will be managed directly by the White House, with states receiving reduced funding but greater control over disaster response.
- Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem supports the restructuring, emphasizing that states can respond faster with federal intervention reserved for catastrophic events.
- FEMA faced criticism for its response to Hurricane Milton in Florida and alleged bias against pro-Trump households.
- The restructuring requires Congressional action to amend the 1988 Stafford Act, with a FEMA review council co-chaired by Noem and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth leading reform proposals.
White House to Assume Direct Control of Disaster Funding
President Trump has initiated a comprehensive restructuring of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), aiming to fundamentally alter how America responds to natural disasters. The plan involves phasing out FEMA after the 2025 hurricane season and redistributing its responsibilities to other federal departments while granting states significantly more control over disaster response. Under this new approach, federal disaster aid funds will be managed directly by the White House rather than through FEMA’s bureaucracy, which has been criticized for inefficiency and misplaced priorities.
“We want to wean off of FEMA and we want to bring it down to the state level. We’re moving it back to the state so the governors can handle it,” Said President Trump.
The restructuring aims to reduce federal spending on disaster relief while making the process more efficient by eliminating layers of bureaucracy. Trump has indicated that states will receive less money under this new system, citing an example where a state requested $120 million but received $71 million, which he deemed sufficient. This approach aligns with the administration’s broader goals of reducing federal overreach and wasteful spending that characterized previous administrations, particularly regarding funds that had been diverted to support illegal immigrants rather than American citizens.
States to Lead Disaster Response with Federal Backup
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem strongly supports the plan to shift disaster management responsibilities to the states. Her vision involves states taking primary control of disaster response, with the federal government intervening only in the most catastrophic circumstances. This approach recognizes that state officials often have better knowledge of local conditions and can respond more quickly than federal agencies burdened by bureaucratic procedures and distant decision-making processes.
“You’ve been very clear that you want to see FEMA eliminated as it exists today, so I’m preparing all of these governors that they will have more control over the decisions on how they respond to their communities so that it can happen faster,” Said Kristi Noem, Secretary of Homeland Security.
President Trump has been particularly critical of gubernatorial leadership in disaster management, suggesting that the ability to handle disaster aftermath should be a basic qualification for state leadership. “The governor should be able to handle it and frankly if they can’t handle the aftermath, then maybe they shouldn’t be governor,” This philosophy represents a significant departure from the increasingly centralized disaster response model that has evolved over recent decades.
Challenges and Implementation Timeline
The administration’s plan to dismantle FEMA, a 46-year-old agency, faces significant legislative hurdles. Completely eliminating FEMA would require Congressional action, including amending the 1988 Stafford Act that currently governs federal disaster assistance. To lead this complex transition, a FEMA review council co-chaired by Secretary Noem and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has been established to propose comprehensive reforms that would fundamentally transform disaster management in America rather than making minor adjustments to the existing system.
Critics of the plan have raised concerns about potential funding gaps and increased burdens on states with limited fiscal capacity. An Urban Institute analysis suggests that shifting disaster costs to states could amount to $41 billion between 2008-2024, with states along the Gulf Coast potentially facing the greatest challenges due to their high disaster exposure. However, proponents counter that the current system has become bloated and inefficient, pointing to FEMA’s failures during recent disasters like Hurricane Milton in Florida where the agency was accused of political bias against pro-Trump households.
“We’re going to give out less money. It’s going to be from the president’s office,” outlining his vision for a more direct and accountable disaster relief system, Said President Trump.
The Trump administration has indicated that the phaseout could begin after the current hurricane season ends in November, allowing for a measured transition that doesn’t disrupt ongoing disaster response efforts. In the meantime, FEMA has already begun changing its operations, with suspended programs and a significant reduction in staff, while some states have experienced delays in disaster declaration approvals and hazard mitigation assistance as the agency prepares for its transformation under the new directive from the White House.
