From the NY Times; author is VT Senator: Don’t Kill FEMA. Fix It.
“No state or municipality — not Vermont, North Carolina or California — has the capacity to respond on its own. Climate change will continue to worsen and communities across America will feel the pain of weather crises. Climate denialism and policies by the new administration that roll back progress made in the past four years will only exacerbate this problem.
That makes it all the more urgent for the federal government to show up in a time of crisis and not play politics with its response. All Americans deserve to know that Washington will have their back when disaster strikes. FEMA was one of President Jimmy Carter’s legacy achievements. Today, it employs more than 22,000 people, including more than 12,500 members in its emergency-response work force, a record. We owe it to Mr. Carter to improve FEMA, not tear it apart only weeks after his passing.”
Recovery Diva 
Peter T. Gaynor CEM®Peter T. Gaynor CEM® • Following • Following Former FEMA Administrator | Crisis Leader | US Marine | Vice President, Resiliency and Disaster Recovery (RDR) at Hill International | Chairman of the Disaster Recovery Coalition of America (DRCA)Former FEMA Administrator | Crisis Leader | US Marine | Vice President, Resiliency and Disaster Recovery (RDR) at Hill International | Chairman of the Disaster Recovery Coalition of America (DRCA) https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-t-gaynor-cem%C2%AE-7949627?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afsd_profile%3AACoAAAFjE-ABEXbE9w9HD08WQwzIOYhm7wHarC0 Visit my website https://femapete.com/leading-during-crisis-online 1h • 1 hour ago An Open Letter to Emergency Managers
To my fellow emergency management professionals, friends, and colleagues, I want to acknowledge the concerns many of you are feeling in light of the President’s announcement and the establishment of the Federal Emergency Management Agency Review Council to reevaluate FEMA https://www.linkedin.com/company/fema/’s future. This news may bring uncertainty, but it also offers an opportunity to shape the future of disaster management in our country.
Your work your expertise, your dedication, and your unwavering commitment to protecting lives and strengthening communities remains critical. The challenges we face as a nation, from hurricanes to wildfires to public health emergencies, require the very skills you bring to the table.
As this council begins its work, I encourage you to remain focused on your mission and take an active role in the conversation. Here are a few ways you can contribute and stay engaged:
Stay Informed: Follow updates about the council’s work and decisions. Organizations like the International Association of Emergency Managers https://www.linkedin.com/company/international-association-of-emergency-managers/ (IAEM), the National Emergency Management Association https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-emergency-management-association/ (NEMA), the Disaster Recovery Coalition of America https://www.linkedin.com/company/drca/ (DRCA) and other interested parties will likely share insights and resources.
Engage with Professional Networks: Join discussions within your local, state, and national emergency management networks. Your experiences in the field provide valuable insights that should inform any future changes.
Advocate for Your Profession: Share stories of your impact with policymakers, community leaders, and the public. Highlight the successes and lessons learned that demonstrate the importance of a strong and unified emergency management system. Call your federal representatives to voice your concerns!
Prepare for Transition: Use this time to document your programs, partnerships, and processes. This will ensure continuity of services and provide a foundation for any structural changes that may come.
Strengthen Community Resilience: Remember that emergency management is about building local capacity and resilience. Collaborate with your communities to reinforce their preparedness, regardless of changes at the federal level.
Finally, remember this: regardless of agency names, structures, or leadership changes, the heart of emergency management is you. Your dedication to saving lives, reducing suffering, and helping communities recover is what matters most. Stay strong, stay connected, and stay hopeful.
For my awesome FEMA https://www.linkedin.com/company/fema/ friends and teammates, I have your back.
Unfortunately the last two prior FEMA Directors are making big $ consulting and se