In a significant development regarding disaster management, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has publicly stated that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) needs to be "reoriented" or possibly eliminated altogether. During a televised meeting of President Donald Trump’s Cabinet in March, Noem declared, “We are eliminating FEMA.” However, as the hurricane season approaches, sources familiar with the situation have revealed that Noem is taking quiet yet crucial steps to retain essential employees and expedite reimbursements for states previously affected by disasters, as reported by NBC News.
President Trump himself expressed intentions of potentially "getting rid of" FEMA shortly after his second inauguration while touring areas in North Carolina that suffered damage from Hurricane Helene. To date, there has been no public indication from his administration, including Noem, suggesting a reconsideration of this stance. Notably, the initial acting FEMA administrator, Cameron Hamilton, was removed from his position merely one day after he testified before Congress, stating that eliminating FEMA would not serve the best interests of the American people. In response, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, Tricia McLaughlin, clarified that Hamilton’s removal was unrelated to his testimony.
Despite the administration's public posture, it appears there is an internal acknowledgment that without a concrete plan for moving forward without FEMA, vital aspects of the agency’s operations must remain intact for the time being. Internal documents reviewed by NBC News reveal that on May 19, Noem granted approval for acting FEMA Administrator David Richardson's request to retain 2,652 CORE employees whose terms were set to expire between April and December. These employees, part of FEMA’s Cadre of On-Call Response/Recovery Employees (CORE) group, are typically contracted for specific periods ranging from two to four years. Their departure would have left FEMA critically understaffed during the peak hurricane season.
Coinciding with the retention of CORE employees, the White House approved disaster recovery reimbursement requests from ten states, including several that had been stalled for months. This accounted for a striking 20% of all such approvals during Trump’s second term, according to FEMA disaster approval data. Sources close to Noem's recent actions indicate she has played a more prominent role than previous secretaries in advocating for FEMA and supporting state reimbursements.
State and local governments are legally entitled to have 75% of their disaster-related costs reimbursed by the federal government. Any amount exceeding this is determined by a fixed formula or, when the formula's conditions are unmet, by the president. Traditionally, the White House has followed FEMA's recommendations for approvals, allowing the homeland security secretary to act primarily as a formality. However, with the current administration pushing to downsize FEMA's role and encourage states to manage their own financial burdens, there has been notable tension. Reports suggest that the White House has frequently opposed FEMA’s recommendations, with Noem stepping in to challenge these decisions.
While the CORE employees are being retained, there are serious concerns regarding the loss of senior executives at FEMA. A substantial number of senior officials have left this year, primarily on a voluntary basis, raising alarms about the agency's preparedness for the upcoming hurricane season. An internal email revealed that sixteen senior officials, who collectively held 228 years of experience at FEMA, announced their departures last week. Additionally, four more senior executives were reported to have stepped down shortly thereafter. A FEMA employee likened the situation to a relay team running with fewer members than necessary, emphasizing the increased strain on remaining staff.
As the hurricane season looms, the future of FEMA and its operational capacity remains uncertain under Secretary Kristi Noem's leadership. The ongoing discussions about the agency's role and funding underscore the critical need for effective disaster management strategies, especially for states that may face significant financial challenges without federal support.
