Summary
The Trump administration plans to eliminate the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and shift responsibility for disaster response to states. A council has been appointed to suggest how to restructure or end FEMA, with recommendations due by mid-November 2025.
Key Facts
- President Trump wants to eliminate FEMA, suggesting states should manage disaster response and preparation.
- A group called the FEMA Review Council, including government and emergency experts, will propose changes to FEMA.
- The council’s recommendations are expected by November 2025, with possible changes occurring between the 2025 and 2026 hurricane seasons.
- FEMA helps states prepare for disasters, provides emergency support, and funds disaster repairs.
- The cost of weather-related disasters has risen sharply in the U.S., partly due to climate change.
- Congress supervises FEMA but only it can completely eliminate the agency.
- A related bill in Congress aims to reform FEMA by simplifying aid applications and boosting state preparations.
- The Trump administration criticizes FEMA for past failures, despite previous efforts to improve its effectiveness.
