Rep. Ami Bera (D-Calif.) has indicated that she will begin overhauling the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) under President Trump.
“The basic premise is that emergencies are best handled at the local, state level, because they know the community knows I can get behind 100%,” NewsNation said. Appeared on “The Hill”.
Berra's comments came as Trump visited both North Carolina and California after hurricanes Helen and Milton devastated the western Tar Heel State, and the ongoing wildfires that have burned thousands of acres in his hometown. I visited inside.
“Obviously we need federal help with major disasters – North Carolina. We need to help. How do we quickly get these resources to the governor, to the county, to the local governors, to the government? I'm open to that conversation,” he told NewsNation host Blake Berman.
“So we need a better mechanism,” Berra said. “And how do we build in a better way that is more resilient? What does that look like? So I think we should be talking about all of that.”
Trump, who has previously criticized FEMA, teased during a stop in North Carolina that he might sign an executive who could overhaul the agency or disband it entirely.
“I will also sign an executive order to begin the process of fundamentally reforming and overhauling FEMA, or getting rid of FEMA. Frankly, I don't think FEMA is good,” Trump said. said Friday.
“When you have a problem like this, I think you want to go — whether it's a Democrat or a Republican governor — fix it and stop wasting your time calling FEMA.” “You want to fix your state without any, and FEMA goes here and they don't know the area, they've never been to this area,” he added.
After North Carolina, the president traveled to California and was warmly welcomed by California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), two officials said, killing at least 28 people and sparking the Los Angeles wildfires. We exchanged barbs about the state's response to. Thousands to evacuate.
North Carolina Rep. Chuck Edwards (R), whose district suffered significant damage after Helen, argued that FEMA should have some presence in Washington, but that relief assistance during natural disasters is dependent on the state. Agreed with Trump that it should be directed at the governor.
“I think when we really sit down and start putting this on the whiteboard, we realize that there is a need in Washington, D.C., some employees at FEMA, but there are 20,000 people there who have failed. “We have to send relief money to the states and leave it up to the governors to decide what's best to help them recover.” Edwards said on NewsNation on Friday. I believe it will.”
Edwards said earlier this month that FEMA needs to be revamped.
“It's an organization that clearly needs an overhaul, and I'm anxious to be a part of it after January 20,” he said in mid-January.
NewsNation is owned by Nexstar Media Group, which also owns The Hill.
