Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has recently drawn attention for her public advocacy against the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), suggesting it may need significant reorientation or even outright elimination.
During a televised meeting of President Donald Trump’s Cabinet in March, Noem was quoted saying, “We are eliminating FEMA.”
However, as hurricane season approaches, sources familiar with the situation indicate that Noem has been taking quiet steps behind the scenes to retain key FEMA personnel and push for disaster reimbursement approvals for states affected by previous disasters.
This apparent contradiction in Noem’s stance comes after Trump himself expressed intentions to possibly dismantle FEMA shortly after he started his second term, during a visit to areas in North Carolina devastated by Hurricane Helene.
Despite the lack of public acknowledgment from the administration regarding a shift in their approach towards FEMA, their actions suggest a degree of recognition that a complete dismantling of the agency could leave vital gaps in disaster response capabilities.
According to internal documents obtained by NBC News, Noem approved a request from newly appointed acting FEMA Administrator David Richardson to retain 2,652 essential employees from the agency’s Core Cadre of On-Call Response/Recovery Employees (CORE) group.
These employees had terms set to expire between April and December, and many believed their departure would have critically undermined FEMA’s ability to respond effectively during the hurricane season.
In fiscal year 2022, FEMA employed a total of 8,802 CORE employees.
Remarkably, a FEMA employee remarked that the workforce was pleasantly surprised that Noem opted to keep the CORE employees onboard at a time when their roles were expected to be cut.
Simultaneously, the White House approved disaster recovery reimbursement requests from 10 states, which had been stalled for months, representing 20% of all such approvals during Trump’s second term.
Multiple sources informed NBC News that Noem has taken on a more prominent role compared to previous secretaries, advocating for FEMA and pushing the White House to approve crucial reimbursements for the states involved.
Generally, state and local governments are entitled to receive 75% reimbursement of their disaster costs from the federal government, with any additional funding determined through a set formula or by the president.
However, previous administrations typically greenlighted reimbursements that FEMA officials deemed appropriate, allowing the homeland security secretary to primarily act as a formality rather than a decision-maker.
Recent indications, however, show a shift as the White House has begun to push back against FEMA recommendations, implying a desire to downsize FEMA’s role.
In response, Noem has become increasingly involved in the process.
DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin refuted the notion of differing viewpoints between the White House and Secretary Noem, characterizing it as a misguided media narrative, emphasizing that Noem is executing Trump’s vision for a more streamlined FEMA.
McLaughlin stated, “Secretary Noem has been implementing President Trump’s vision for the future of FEMA to shift it away from a bloated, DC-centric bureaucracy that has let down the American people.”
Experts like Michael Coen, former chief of staff at FEMA under the Biden administration, expressed concerns about how states, particularly North Carolina, Alabama, and Mississippi, would cope with substantial unexpected expenses without federal support.
He noted that the financial burden of emergency response falls heavily on these states, potentially bankrupting them or forcing them to undertake significant new financial measures.
Given the current circumstances where FEMA’s Core employees are slated to stay, concerns loom over senior executive departures from the agency.
This year has seen an alarming number of voluntary resignations among FEMA’s senior executives, prompting apprehension about the agency’s readiness to handle increased demands during hurricane season.
Recently, an internal email revealed that 16 senior FEMA officials, collectively bringing in 228 years of experience, were leaving, alongside four additional senior departure announcements from FEMA’s acting chief of staff.
One FEMA employee likened the situation to a relay team deprived of adequate members, stressing that the remaining runners would be over-extended as they attempt to shoulder more than they are prepared for.
The situation paints a daunting picture as the agency approaches its most critical period, raising essential questions about the balance between political agendas and effective disaster response in the face of increasingly severe weather patterns from climate change.
As the nation braces for what could be a turbulent hurricane season, the unfolding dynamics will undoubtedly have far-reaching implications for FEMA, the states it serves, and for the American public at large.
The coming months will reveal whether the recent strategic moves can bridge the gap between the reduction of federal support and the escalating demands on states during times of crisis.
image source from：https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/scramble-keep-fema-alive-ahead-hurricane-season-rcna209547
