From the Advocate: Trump’s plan to shutter FEMA leaves U.S. ‘more vulnerable,’ says former head of agency

“Criswell told The Advocate in an interview that the Trump administration’s plan would strip away not only FEMA’s high-profile disaster response efforts but also the underlying infrastructure that helps local and state governments prepare for, survive, and recover from catastrophic events.

“It’s important to remember the mission statement of FEMA—to help people before, during, and after disasters,” she said. While state and local emergency managers already carry significant responsibility, they rely heavily on FEMA funding to maintain preparedness. “They get funding through training, through exercises, through preparedness grants that help them buy equipment,” she explained, citing programs such as fire department grants and the Emergency Management Performance Grant.”