President Trump is considering the possibility of liquidating FEMA: details and Congress reaction
26 january 2025 в 04:13
President Donald Trump suggested on Friday to consider the possibility of «getting rid of» FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) after visiting disaster areas in California and North Carolina.
«FEMA has been a big disappointment», - noted the Republican president. «It's very bureaucratic. And it’s very slow».
The agency was created to assist the United States in preparing for and recovering from various natural disasters. FEMA collaborates with local governments to help those affected by disasters, such as losing their homes in a forest fire or hurricane.
FEMA only intervenes in a local situation when a state formally requests federal assistance or when a natural disaster exceeds the capabilities of local officials. The president must then sign a declaration confirming that the area will receive assistance.
FEMA is part of the Department of Homeland Security and relies on an annual operating budget and disaster relief fund that Congress must replenish each year to support states in recovery and disaster preparedness efforts.
President Trump does not have the unilateral authority to eliminate FEMA under current federal laws.
Although the president can propose budget cuts or changes in agencies, the final authority to enact laws that could reorganize or even eliminate FEMA belongs to Congress. To achieve such a change, Trump would need the support of lawmakers, but both Republicans and Democrats traditionally support FEMA.
Trump also expressed support for limiting the role of the federal government in disaster response, which he confirmed to reporters on Friday.
«I would like to see states take care of disasters», - he said in North Carolina. «Let the states take care of tornadoes and hurricanes and all the other things that happen».
«You want your state to fix it and not waste time calling FEMA. And when FEMA comes, they don’t know the area. They’ve never been to this area, and they want to give you rules you’ve never heard of. They want to bring people who aren’t as good as the people you already have. And FEMA has been a disaster»
«FEMA has been a big disappointment», - noted the Republican president. «It's very bureaucratic. And it’s very slow».
The agency was created to assist the United States in preparing for and recovering from various natural disasters. FEMA collaborates with local governments to help those affected by disasters, such as losing their homes in a forest fire or hurricane.
FEMA only intervenes in a local situation when a state formally requests federal assistance or when a natural disaster exceeds the capabilities of local officials. The president must then sign a declaration confirming that the area will receive assistance.
FEMA is part of the Department of Homeland Security and relies on an annual operating budget and disaster relief fund that Congress must replenish each year to support states in recovery and disaster preparedness efforts.
President Trump does not have the unilateral authority to eliminate FEMA under current federal laws.
Although the president can propose budget cuts or changes in agencies, the final authority to enact laws that could reorganize or even eliminate FEMA belongs to Congress. To achieve such a change, Trump would need the support of lawmakers, but both Republicans and Democrats traditionally support FEMA.
Trump also expressed support for limiting the role of the federal government in disaster response, which he confirmed to reporters on Friday.
«I would like to see states take care of disasters», - he said in North Carolina. «Let the states take care of tornadoes and hurricanes and all the other things that happen».
«You want your state to fix it and not waste time calling FEMA. And when FEMA comes, they don’t know the area. They’ve never been to this area, and they want to give you rules you’ve never heard of. They want to bring people who aren’t as good as the people you already have. And FEMA has been a disaster»
© Zhinobaeva Margarita
