Trump Vows to Overhaul or Eliminate FEMA, Accusing Agency of Bungling Disaster Relief Efforts
U.S. President Donald Trump has vowed to sign an executive order to overhaul or eliminate the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), saying he prefers that states be given federal money to handle disasters themselves.
FEMA’s Response to Hurricane Helene
Trump, on his first trip since reclaiming the presidency on Monday, accused FEMA of bungling emergency relief efforts in North Carolina, which was devastated by flooding from Hurricane Helene in September.
"FEMA has turned out to be a disaster," he said during a tour of a neighborhood destroyed by Helene where trees were downed and homes had boarded-up windows. "I think we recommend that FEMA go away."
Experts Doubt Trump’s Ability to Shut Down FEMA
Experts doubt that Trump alone can shut down FEMA. Rob Verchick, a former Obama administration official at the Environmental Protection Agency and now a professor at Loyola University New Orleans College of Law, said eliminating FEMA most likely requires Congressional action.
He said FEMA was created by former President Jimmy Carter by executive order but has been assigned roles and funding by Congress for the country’s emergency response programs.
FEMA’s Role in Emergency Response
FEMA brings in emergency personnel, supplies, and equipment to help areas begin to recover from natural disasters, and funding for the agency has soared in recent years as extreme weather events increase the demand for its services.
The agency, which has 10 regional offices and employs more than 20,000 people across the country, was run for the last four years by Democratic President Joe Biden’s administration.
FEMA’s Target in Project 2025
FEMA was a target of Project 2025, a conservative blueprint for Trump’s second term prepared by his allies that the president distanced himself from during the election. The plan called for dismantling the Department of Homeland Security and relocating FEMA to the Department of Interior or the Department of Transportation.
Trump’s Criticism of Biden’s Administration
Trump complained that Biden did not do enough to help western North Carolina recover from the hurricane, an accusation the Biden administration rejected as misinformation.
California Wildfires
Trump was headed next to visit Los Angeles, where wildfires this month have caused widespread destruction and three massive blazes still threaten the region.
Conclusion
Trump’s vow to overhaul or eliminate FEMA has sparked controversy, with experts doubting his ability to do so without Congressional action. The agency has played a crucial role in emergency response efforts, and its elimination could have significant consequences for disaster relief efforts across the country.
FAQs
Q: Can Trump unilaterally eliminate FEMA?
A: No, experts believe that eliminating FEMA would require Congressional action.
Q: What is FEMA’s role in emergency response efforts?
A: FEMA brings in emergency personnel, supplies, and equipment to help areas begin to recover from natural disasters.
Q: Has FEMA been effective in responding to disasters?
A: The agency has received criticism for its response to some disasters, but it has also played a crucial role in emergency response efforts.
Q: What is Project 2025, and how does it relate to FEMA?
A: Project 2025 is a conservative blueprint for Trump’s second term that called for dismantling the Department of Homeland Security and relocating FEMA to the Department of Interior or the Department of Transportation.