President Donald Trump has expressed a desire to eliminate the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), but lawmakers from both parties are advocating for its elevation to a cabinet-level agency. Currently under the Department of Homeland Security, FEMA could become an independent organization according to a draft legislative proposal released recently.
The initiative is being led by Rep. Sam Graves, R-Mo., who chairs the House Transport and Infrastructure Committee, alongside Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Wash., who is the committee’s ranking member. The proposed legislation also includes establishing a centralized website to track disaster relief efforts across the federal government, empowering FEMA to generate repair bills for homes impacted by disasters. As it stands, FEMA is only responsible for covering costs related to making homes more livable following disasters.
“By publishing draft legislation for this discussion, we hope to attract colleagues and stakeholders to comprehensive FEMA reforms,” Graves stated. He pointed out that the bill proposes significant changes aimed at localizing emergency response efforts.
While Trump and Homeland Security’s Secretary, Christa Noem, have shown interest in abolishing FEMA, former FEMA manager Cameron Hamilton cautioned against such actions. “I don’t think it’s in Americans’ best interest to eliminate FEMA,” he said during a House Ways and Means Committee session. However, Hamilton acknowledged he wasn’t in a position to make that decision, suggesting that this conversation should involve the President and Congress.
Despite serving as an acting FEMA administrator, Hamilton was removed from his position shortly after the discussion. Earlier in January, Trump had visited North Carolina to assess recovery operations after Hurricane Helen, and he proposed a plan to reform FEMA, stating, “I frankly don’t think FEMA is good.”
During this visit, he indicated that he would sign an executive order to initiate comprehensive reforms to FEMA or potentially dissolve the agency altogether. This order aims to review potential reforms and whether FEMA’s bureaucracy hampers effective disaster response. In line with this, Trump’s budget plan proposes cutting nearly $650 million in FEMA grants.
On Tuesday, Noem reiterated his support for Trump’s critiques of FEMA, stating that the agency has often failed to meet the needs of the American people and should be dismantled in its current form.
