From the NY Times: Trump Panel Calls for FEMA Overhaul
New Overhaul Plan for FEMA
Reply
FEMA’s Weaknesses
From MS Now: FEMA and the American people deserve better than Trump’s political lackeys
“Reports suggest the Trump administration is considering even deeper workforce cuts at FEMA, a highly dangerous proposal with the start of hurricane season less than a month away.”
It’s Harder Than Ever to Get Federal Disaster Aid
From the NYTimes: It’s Harder Than Ever to Get Federal Disaster Aid. Even in Red States.
During President Trump’s second term, the disaster declarations that unlock money are taking longer than in the past. Blue states wait the longest and they hear ‘no’ more often.
Deja Vu – FEMA Will Rehire Staff
From MSN: FEMA Aims to Rehire Most of the Disaster Response Employees It Fired Months Ago.
“The Federal Emergency Management Agency is working to rehire more than 100 disaster-response employees who had been fired months ago in time for hurricane season, according to FEMA officials.
The agency is planning to bring back most of the staffers from the Cadre of On-Call Response and Recovery (CORE), FEMA’s largest workforce, who were suddenly terminated this past winter as part of then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi L. Noem’s plans to cut the agency by 50 percent. These employees are among the first on the ground after a disaster and often stick around for years to help communities recover. They work under two- to four-year contracts that are usually renewed, barring any performance issues, because disaster recovery efforts can span years, if not decades.”
From the WashPost: House passes DHS funding bill that would end shutdown for most of agency.
” The U.S. House ended the bulk of the longest government shutdown in U.S. history Thursday, approving a bipartisan bill to fund most of the Department of Homeland Security after weeks of delay and with little fanfare.
It was a head-spinning turnaround: Just Wednesday, House Republican leaders were insisting that the Senate-passed bill had a technical problem that made it impossible for them to support it.
But President Donald Trump had been pushing lawmakers to fund the agency before the end of the week, when an emergency fund used to pay employee salaries would run dry. An assassination attempt at the White House correspondents’ dinner the weekend before had also heightened interest in ensuring Secret Service agents don’t miss a paycheck.”
FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund Is In the Red Zone
From CBS News: FEMA’s disaster relief fund hits red zone ahead of hurricane season.
“Washington — With hurricane season just weeks away, FEMA has officially entered a financial danger zone — forcing the agency to limit spending to only the most urgent, life-saving needs amid the partial government shutdown.
The move, known as Imminent Needs Funding, is triggered when FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund drops below $3 billion.
And the timing couldn’t be worse.
“Disasters are unpredictable. They’re very costly. We don’t know what could happen between now and June 1,” said FEMA Associate Administrator Victoria Barton.
FEMA hasn’t stopped working outright, but the disaster agency must now sharply narrow how it spends federal disaster dollars — prioritizing immediate emergency response, direct aid to survivors and critical infrastructure protection, while delaying many reimbursements and longer-term recovery projects.”
F
The Diva Asked ChatGPS About the Future of FEMA
[A little amusement on a dull Sunday.]
The question posed was: What is the likelihood that FEMA will be restored to a state similar to how it was before this Trump Administration?
The reply:
“The short answer: moderate, but not high in the near term.
If by “restored” you mean FEMA returning to something close to its pre-2025 structure, staffing, grant programs, autonomy, and federal leadership role, the likelihood depends mostly on who controls the White House, Congress, and DHS after the next election cycle.
My estimate (as of April 2026)
Within the next 1–2 years:
30% chance of substantial restoration.
Reason: The current administration has pursued major restructuring efforts, including proposed workforce reductions, shifting disaster responsibility to states, and budget cuts. Some of these changes are already underway, though not all are finalized.
Within 3–5 years:
55% chance of partial-to-major restoration.
Reason: Federal agencies often swing with administrations. If a future president and Congress prioritize disaster readiness after major hurricanes, wildfires, floods, or public backlash, FEMA could be rebuilt quickly through:
- rehiring staff
- restoring grants
- re-expanding federal disaster assistance
- confirming stable leadership
- reversing DHS constraints
That has happened historically with other agencies after periods of contraction.
Full return to “how it was before”
Less likely than partial restoration.
Even if FEMA rebounds, it may not look exactly like the pre-2025 version because:
- Staff expertise loss matters. Senior departures are hard to replace quickly.
- Some reforms may stick (state cost-sharing, oversight changes, leaner staffing).
- Climate-driven disasters are increasing, forcing FEMA to evolve rather than simply revert.
- Political skepticism of federal disaster spending now has stronger footing than before.
What increases restoration odds?
- A catastrophic disaster season exposing capacity gaps
- Bipartisan pressure from governors (red and blue states alike)
- Public anger over delayed disaster aid
- Change in presidential administration
- Congressional funding mandates protecting staffing and grants
There are already signs of institutional pushback: bipartisan efforts to preserve staffing, court intervention restoring at least one mitigation program, and some operational rollbacks of earlier restrictions.
Bottom line
FEMA is more likely to be rebuilt than eliminated—but less likely to be restored exactly as it once was. A future FEMA may be a hybrid: somewhat leaner, more state-dependent, but re-strengthened after practical realities force it.
My blunt forecast
By 2030, I’d estimate:
- 20% FEMA remains heavily diminished
- 50% FEMA partially restored and modernized
- 30% FEMA largely restored to pre-2025 capability levels
If you’d like, I can also give you a politically neutral scenario forecast of FEMA under a Democratic administration vs Republican administration through 2032.
FEMA Employee Warned of Increased Operational Risk
From Politico: Trump appointee raised alarm about FEMA’s ‘increased operational risk’
“In an internal memos earlier this year, a senior official at the agency urged immediate action to alleviate “workforce strain” and other problems.A Trump administration official warned colleagues that the Federal Emergency Management Agency faces “increased risk” due to “workforce strain” and a growing number of disasters, according to internal documents reviewed by POLITICO’s E&E News.
The series of memos — written in January and February by FEMA’s communications chief, a political appointee — appear to validate widespread concern about the ability of the nation’s disaster agency to help areas hit by storms, floods, wildfires and other disasters.
President Donald Trump has assailed FEMA since taking office last year, cutting both agency staff and programs that have given states billions of dollars to protect against natural disasters. The administration has expressed concern only recently about FEMA’s ability to function, as Trump officials blame Democrats in Congress for a partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees FEMA.”
Is FEMA Ready for the Coming Hurricane Season?
From RollingStone andGrist: Is Markwayne Mullin’s FEMA Ready for Hurricane Season?
“The new DHS chief has pledged to move on from the Kristi Noem era — but the disaster agency is still in disarray.”
Recovery Diva 