A council established to advise the federal government on disaster response has recommended reducing the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s budget and shifting more responsibility for disaster management to state governments.
The FEMA Review Council, formed last year to evaluate the agency’s budget and processes, released its recommendations last week. Experts from the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) have raised concerns that the proposal does not address the effects of prior staffing reductions, funding freezes, and changes to disaster declarations.
Joel Scata, Senior Attorney at NRDC, said, "FEMA needs reform, and there was a real chance to deliver it. But the cuts recommended in this report will make America less safe by weakening the nation's emergency response safety net when hurricanes, floods, and wildfires are growing more frequent, more intense, and more expensive."
FEMA’s capacity has decreased in recent years, coinciding with the administration’s decision to halt enforcement of flood-protection standards intended to make public infrastructure more resilient. Critics warn this could leave communities exposed to repeated damage and increased recovery costs.
Public comments submitted during the review process have largely supported maintaining or expanding FEMA’s capabilities. Disaster survivors shared accounts of receiving critical aid from the agency, which helped them secure shelter, rebuild homes, and stabilize communities after emergencies.
The NRDC has called on federal lawmakers and the administration to reject proposals that could further reduce FEMA’s capacity or politicize disaster relief. The organization recommends rebuilding FEMA’s workforce, enforcing flood and building standards, fully funding risk-reduction grants, and protecting disaster aid from political interference.
