During a White House briefing on Tuesday, President Donald Trump announced plans to “phase out” the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) after the current hurricane season, signaling a shift in how disaster relief funds are managed. He stated that states would receive less federal aid for natural disasters and that disaster relief would be distributed directly from the president’s office rather than through FEMA, which has an annual budget of around $30 billion and employs over 20,000 staff members.
Trump emphasized that the money would be allocated directly from the White House, potentially involving the Department of Homeland Security. He noted the importance of reducing federal expenditure on disaster recovery, telling governors that their states would bear more of the costs associated with these emergencies.
The timing of this announcement is notable as the U.S. hurricane season runs from June 1 to November, with predictions of above-normal activity this year, including as many as ten hurricanes. Trump’s remarks indicate a significant shift in disaster response strategy, moving away from the established framework whereby FEMA oversees the distribution of financial aid following disaster declarations.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem supported Trump’s position, advocating for the restructuring of FEMA and encouraging states to collaborate and develop their own disaster response systems. This restructuring aims to foster communication and mutual aid agreements among states, allowing them to manage disaster response independently while relying on federal support only in catastrophic situations. The potential restructuring could greatly impact how emergency management is handled in the U.S.
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