From Politico: New FEMA head says he will “run right over” staff who resist his changes.

“David Richardson, the new head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, told staff on Friday he will “run right over” anyone that resists changes and that all delegation of authority in the agency is immediately suspended.
Richardson spoke one day after he was appointed to replace acting FEMA chief Cameron Hamilton, who was ousted by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem after telling a congressional hearing he did not support eliminating the agency.”

From Politico: Congress counters Trump with massive FEMA restructuring plan.
Republicans and Democrats are trying to give Congress a voice in the future of the disaster agency.

“A bipartisan group of House members is drafting a sweeping bill to overhaul the Federal Emergency Management Agency — and in some cases expand its services — in an effort to head off President Donald Trump’s threats to shrink or abolish the agency.

Under the bill, FEMA could pay for major repairs to homes damaged in disasters, instead of only temporary fixes. The agency would be able to penalize states that don’t try to mitigate disasters,,,”

From the NY Times: Leader of FEMA Is Dismissed as Trump Administration Takes Aim at the Agency.  https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/08/us/politics/fema-cameron-hamilton.html

The ouster of Cameron Hamilton, less than a month before the start of the hurricane season, came a day after he told lawmakers that FEMA was vital to communities “in their greatest times of need” and should not be eliminated.

From Grist: Homeland Security News Wire: Coming This Summer: Record-Breaking Heat and Plenty of Hurricanes.

Forecasters are predicting higher temperatures across the U.S. and up to 10 hurricanes. Cutting federal programs could leave people even more vulnerable.
See more details in the full article

From USA Today: Trump administration continues to suggest FEMA could go away

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/05/06/donald-trump-kristi-noem-fema-abolish-helene-wildfire/83474589007/

“I think we’re going to recommend that FEMA go away,” Trump said while touring flood damage in North Carolina in January, before continuing on to Los Angeles, which was devested by wildfires, where he said “I say you don’t need FEMA, you need a good state government.”

From HS Today: President Trump Appoints New Members to Federal Emergency Management Agency Review Council

President Donald J. Trump has appointed several new members to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Review Council, a bipartisan group tasked with reforming and streamlining the nation’s emergency management and disaster response system, according to a press release on April 28. Secretary Kristi Noem and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth will co-chair the council.

The FEMA Review Council is charged with streamlining operations and ensuring FEMA delivers rapid, efficient, and mission-focused relief to Americans in need.
Appointed Members:

Co-Chair: Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem
Co-Chair: Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth
Greg Abbott, Governor, State of Texas
Phil Bryant, Former Governor, State of Mississippi
Jane Castor, Mayor, City of Tampa, Florida
Mark Cooper, Former Chief of Staff, Governor John Bel Edwards
Rosie Cordero-Stutz, Sheriff, Miami-Dade County
Evan Greenberg, CEO, Chubb Limited
Kevin Guthrie, Executive Director, Florida Division of Emergency Management
W. Nim Kidd, Chief, Texas Division of Emergency Management
Michael Whatley, Chairman, Republican National Committee
Glenn Youngkin, Governor, Commonwealth of Virginia
Robert J. Fenton, Jr., Region 9 Administrator and two-time Acting Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency

The Diva does not usually express an opinion re posts, but she finds this group distressingly political. Comments from readers are invited.

There had been a major delay in making the new book available, but it is ready now: U.S. Emergency Management in the 21st Century.

https://www.routledge.com/US-Emergency-Management-in-the-21st-Century-From-Disaster-to-Catastrophe/Cutter-Gall-Rubin/p/book/9781032783420

It is available in several formats – hard copy, paper back, and electronic.

From the AP: Loss of FEMA program spells disaster for hundreds of communities and their projects

“The textile mills that once served as the backbone of Mount Pleasant, North Carolina, have long been shuttered, and officials believed federal money would be key to the town’s overdue revitalization. They hoped an improved stormwater drainage system and secured electrical wires — funded through a program to help communities protect against natural disasters and climate change — would safeguard investments in new businesses like a renovated historic theater to spur the largely rural economy.

Mount Pleasant was about to receive $4 million when the Federal Emergency Management Agency eliminated the program. Officials say their plans — years in the making — and those of hundreds of communities nationwide supported by the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program have been upended.”

From HSToday: U.S. Emergency Agency Plan Requires Nearly All Staff to Be Deployed, Draft FEMA Memo Shows.

“The U.S. agency that manages disasters plans to require nearly all employees, including full-time headquarters and regional staff, to be deployed to emergency zones, according to a draft memo to agency employees seen by Reuters.

This spring, the Federal Emergency Management Agency will assign all full-time employees roles in leading, managing and supporting disaster response and recovery, according to the draft memo dated “April xx, 2025,” from acting head Cam Hamilton to all employees.

“This memo redefines the emergency management categories, outlining how every employee within FEMA has a role in emergency management,” the memo says.”

From CNN: FEMA losing roughly 20% of permanent staff, including longtime leaders, ahead of hurricane season

“The agency tasked with delivering billions of dollars in assistance to communities devastated by natural disasters is about to lose a huge portion of its workforce, including some of its most experienced and knowledgeable leaders who manage disaster response.

With hurricane season just weeks away, about 20% of FEMA’s permanent full-time staff – roughly 1,000 workers – are expected to take a voluntary buyout as part of the latest staff reduction effort from Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, according to several sources briefed on the looming departures.

FEMA leaders responsible for response plans, operations and disaster recovery are among a long list of top brass exiting the agency, multiple sources told CNN.”