President Donald Trump said on June 10 that he plans to phase out the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) after this year’s hurricane season, aiming to shift disaster response to states. “We want to wean off of FEMA, and we want to bring it down to the state level,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. Trump also said that the federal government will reduce disaster aid, with funding coming directly from the president’s office.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts this hurricane season, ending November 30, will be intense and potentially deadly.
FEMA’s role in disaster response has been controversial for years. Since the chaos of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the agency has faced ongoing criticism for mismanagement, bureaucratic hurdles, and poor coordination. These issues have continued through recent events like Hurricane Helene, with delays and inadequate resources leaving many communities vulnerable when they need help most.
What exactly do we mean? Learn more about FEMA's challenges by clicking through this gallery.