Homeland Security Chief Considers Future Without FEMA
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is reportedly considering the dismantling of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), according to a recent report from Bloomberg News.
FEMA, a crucial federal agency, is tasked with providing disaster relief across the nation for events such as hurricanes, wildfires, and pandemics.
A memo dated March 25, initiated at Noem’s behest, outlines a potential strategy for abolishing and restructuring FEMA. Key suggestions in the document include reducing aid provided and limiting the number of incidents that qualify for assistance, as well as discontinuing long-term housing support for disaster victims.
In reference to these proposed changes, Carrie Speranza, a former FEMA adviser, commented to Bloomberg, “this just means you should not expect to see FEMA on the ground unless it’s 9/11, Katrina, [or] Superstorm Sandy.”
These suggested reductions align with Project 2025, a plan from the Heritage Foundation, which envisions a streamlined role for FEMA under a potential second Trump administration, as reported.
FEMA was established in 1979 by President Jimmy Carter to address state-level challenges in handling disasters like the Love Canal toxic waste crisis and the Three Mile Island nuclear incident. It became part of the Department of Homeland Security post-9/11.
Since its inception, FEMA has been a target for Republican policymakers. Notably, Mitt Romney suggested eliminating it during his 2012 presidential campaign. In 2019, President Donald Trump proposed a significant budget cut of $667 million, though it was blocked by a Democratic-controlled Congress.
Additionally, that year, Trump redirected funds from FEMA to bolster border security, a decision made shortly before the emergence of COVID-19 in the U.S., as reported by NBC News.
Currently, FEMA operates with a budget of $20.3 billion.
Trump’s second term has already seen cuts to a FEMA grant program designed to aid states in storm preparedness. According to a CBS News analysis, these cuts are expected to disproportionately impact states that supported Trump in the 2024 election, including North Carolina, which suffered extensive damage from Hurricane Helene last year.
Efforts to dismantle FEMA could face substantial legal hurdles. Similar to the Department of Education, FEMA’s dissolution would require congressional approval.
For more information, visit the original article on American Journal News.
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