Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has instructed the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to prepare a memo outlining plans to abolish the agency and replace it with a smaller, rebranded disaster response organization. This directive comes as part of the Trump administration’s ongoing effort to reduce the size and scope of FEMA, which has faced criticism from both sides of the political aisle.
The memo, dated March 25, was written by then-acting FEMA head Cameron Hamilton and suggests significant cuts to FEMA’s functions. It proposes eliminating long-term housing assistance for disaster survivors and halting new enrollments in the National Flood Insurance Program. These changes aim to limit the federal government’s involvement in disaster response, potentially shifting more responsibilities to state and local governments.
While the memo has not been publicly discussed before, it highlights the administration’s intention to wind down FEMA’s operations, a move that only Congress can formally enact. President Trump and Noem have expressed their desire to see FEMA restructured but have provided few specifics on how these changes will unfold.
Carrie Speranza, a former FEMA advisor, noted that under the proposed changes, the agency would likely only respond to major disasters like 9/11 or Hurricane Katrina. This raises concerns about the ability of states to manage disaster recovery on their own, especially in smaller incidents that may not qualify as national emergencies.
The memo also criticizes the National Flood Insurance Program, which has over four million policyholders and is facing financial difficulties due to climate change. Hamilton suggested that the administration might explore legal options to stop new policy sales and renewals, but further research is needed.
In addition to proposing a smaller FEMA, the memo included potential new names for the agency, such as the Office of Crisis Management and the National Office of Emergency Management. These changes are part of a broader effort to streamline disaster response and reduce federal spending.
Many of the proposed reforms cannot be implemented without Congressional approval. However, the administration believes it can make immediate changes, such as reducing aid for less severe disasters. Recent actions have already begun to reflect this shift, including the cancellation of a grant program aimed at making communities more resilient to disasters.
As the administration continues to push for these changes, the upcoming hurricane season may further influence discussions around FEMA’s future. The next few months will be crucial in determining how the agency and disaster response in the United States will evolve.