From the GAO: Disaster Assistance High-Risk Series: Federal Response Workforce Readiness. GAO Report:25-108598

“Federal agencies sent thousands of personnel to support response efforts to recent disasters such as Hurricanes Helene and Milton and the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires. But the concurrent disasters and limited workforce capacity, among other things, made response more difficult.

Efforts are underway to review the federal role in disaster response. But the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s responsibilities have not changed. Recent FEMA workforce reductions may reduce how effective a federal response could be in future high-impact disasters.

This report is the first in a series addressing federal disaster response readiness.”