Topline
President Donald Trump said Friday he planned to sign an executive order to overhaul the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which may include a recommendation to abolish the agency, marking Trump’s latest criticism suggesting disaster response efforts should instead be carried out by the states.
Trump, in a visit to an area devastated by Hurricane Helene in North Carolina, said states should ... [+]
Key Facts
Trump, who spoke during a visit to Asheville, North Carolina, said he would sign an executive order “fundamentally reforming and overhauling FEMA,” including “maybe getting rid of” the agency.
Although he did not specify what changes would be made to FEMA, Trump suggested disaster aid funding would come directly from the federal government, but said “when there is a problem with a state, I think that that problem should be taken care of by the state.”
The federal government would supply “a lot of the money” to repair damage caused by Hurricane Helene—which devastated Asheville and other parts of the Southeast in September—and assist with clean-up efforts, including as much as 75% of required funds, Trump said.
Trump criticized FEMA in an interview with Fox News earlier this week, saying he would “rather see the states take care of their own problems” while claiming FEMA has not done its “job the last four years.”
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Crucial Quote
“I think, frankly, FEMA is not good,” Trump said. “I think when you have a problem like this, I think you want to use your state to fix it and not waste time calling FEMA.”
What Is Fema?
Established by President Jimmy Carter in 1979, FEMA is the federal government’s agency tasked with responding to “unpredictable and devastating disasters.” FEMA assists after local and state officials request a presidential emergency declaration, indicating a state is overwhelmed and unable to handle a disaster on its own. The agency reimburses state and local governments for recovery efforts, including debris removal, in addition to financial assistance to affected communities and residents.
What Has Trump Said About Fema’s Response To Hurricane Helene?
Trump previously alleged FEMA had depleted its funds after spending “billions of dollars” on housing migrants. While former Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said FEMA’s disaster relief efforts faced a cash crunch, the funding used by FEMA and U.S. Customs and Border Protection to shelter migrants is through a program that is separate from the Disaster Relief Fund. Trump also claimed FEMA notified hurricane victims they would only receive $750 in relief and nothing else, though the agency noted this figure is specifically for Serious Needs Assistance, an immediate aid fund for disaster victims to pay for food, water and emergency supplies. Then-President Joe Biden condemned Trump for his claims about the federal government’s response to the disaster and accused Trump of helping promote “disinformation and outright lies.”
What Has Trump Said About Disaster Response For The California Wildfires?
Trump has threatened to withhold federal disaster funds from California—which faces a series of wildfires across Los Angeles County—after blaming the state’s fish conservation efforts for water shortages that hampered firefighting efforts. Trump has claimed California Gov. Gavin Newsom could “release the water that comes from the north” to combat the fires, suggesting “all they have to do is turn the valve.” Water experts in the state have shut this theory down, however, noting reservoirs in Southern California were full of water at the start of the year and issues with firefighting had other causes.
Key Background
Trump is traveling to Asheville and California on Friday to survey the damage caused by Hurricane Helene and the Los Angeles County wildfires. His criticism of federal disaster relief efforts has increased in recent months, and he has said he would be “looking at the whole concept” of the agency while pursuing overhauls. Trump has said he would prefer states to handle disaster relief because the process would be faster than the federal government sending in FEMA. Michael Coen, FEMA’s chief of staff during the Biden administration, reportedly said Trump was “misinformed” about the agency, saying Trump was “going to pick winners and losers” on which communities would receive relief. Other former FEMA officials suggest Trump’s recommendation to require states to handle disaster relief would be beneficial, however. Daniel Kaniewsky, a FEMA official during Trump’s first term, told the New York Times that FEMA is overextended and disaster relief “burdens should be shared at all levels of government.”
Further Reading
Ty Roush is a New York City-based breaking news reporter who frequently covers Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the automotive industry and sports money.
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