Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is reportedly investigating methods for dismantling the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), as detailed in a report by Bloomberg News.
As a federal entity, FEMA is tasked with providing disaster relief to states experiencing crises such as hurricanes, wildfires, and pandemics.
Under Noem’s guidance, a memo from March 25 was drafted by FEMA, suggesting strategies for its possible disbandment and reorganization. Key proposals include reducing the scope of aid and discontinuing long-term housing relief for those impacted by disasters.
According to former FEMA adviser Carrie Speranza, this development signifies that “this just means you should not expect to see FEMA on the ground unless it’s 9/11, Katrina, [or] Superstorm Sandy,” as reported by Bloomberg.
The recommendation to restrict FEMA’s response is also mentioned in Project 2025, a strategic plan by the Heritage Foundation for a potential second term of Donald Trump.
The establishment of FEMA dates back to 1979, initiated by President Jimmy Carter after state-level struggles with emergencies like the Love Canal toxic waste issue and the Three Mile Island nuclear incident. Post-September 11 attacks, it became part of the Department of Homeland Security.
FEMA has been a target for Republican criticism from its inception. During his 2012 presidential campaign, Mitt Romney suggested eliminating the agency. In 2019, President Donald Trump proposed a $667 million budget cut for FEMA, which was blocked by Congress, then under Democratic control.
That same year, Trump reallocated millions from FEMA to bolster border security, just months before COVID-19 emerged in the U.S.
Currently, FEMA operates with a budget of $20.3 billion.
In his subsequent term, Trump has already reduced funding for a FEMA grant program designed to aid states in storm preparedness. A CBS News analysis indicates that these reductions will disproportionately impact states that supported Trump in 2024, including North Carolina, which suffered significant damage from Hurricane Helene last year.
Efforts to dissolve FEMA are expected to encounter legal hurdles. Similar to the Department of Education, congressional approval is necessary for the White House to fully abolish this agency.
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