president Donald Trump He suggested on Friday that he was considering “getting rid of” FEMA after visiting disaster zones in California and North Carolina.
“FEMA has been a very big disappointment,” the Republican president commented. “It’s too bureaucratic. And it’s too slow.”
TRUMP: “I’m also going to sign an executive order to start the process of reforming and basically reforming FEMA or maybe getting rid of FEMA. I think, frankly, FEMA is no good. I think when you have a problem like this, I think you want to use your mandate to fix it and not… pic.twitter.com/sklqsj8bq7
– Aaron Rubar (@atrupar) January 24, 2025
Find out more below.
What does FEMA do?
The agency is designed to help the United States prepare for and recover from various natural disasters. FEMA works with local governments to help those affected by a disaster, such as losing a home to a wildfire or tornado.
FEMA only enters local mode when a state makes a formal request to the government for federal assistance or when a natural disaster overwhelms the capabilities of local officials. The president must then sign a declaration confirming that the region will receive aid.
FEMA is part of the Department of Homeland Security and relies on the Annual Budget Operating Funds and the Disaster Relief Fund, both of which Congress must replenish each year to support states in disaster recovery and preparedness efforts.
Can Trump get rid of FEMA?
President Trump does not have the authority to unilaterally eliminate FEMA, according to current federal laws.
While the president can propose budget cuts or changes to agencies, ultimate authority to pass laws — such as those that could reorganize or even eliminate FEMA — rests with Congress. To achieve such a change, Trump would need support from lawmakers, but both Republican and Democratic lawmakers have traditionally supported FEMA.
Trump also expressed support for limiting the federal government’s role in disaster response, a sentiment he reiterated to reporters on Friday.
“I would like to see states take care of disasters,” he said in North Carolina. “Let the state take care of hurricanes and tornadoes and all the other things that happen.”
“You want to use your state to fix it and not waste time calling FEMA. Then FEMA gets here and they don’t know the area. They’ve never been to the area, and they want to give you rules you’ve never heard of. They want to bring in people who are not as good as the people you already have.” “And FEMA turned out to be a disaster.”