Trump Walks Back Talk of Abolishing FEMA
Only a month after President Donald Trump said he planned to phase out the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) after this year’s hurricane season, he is now reportedly walking back his plans.
On Friday, The Washington Post reported that “the White House has backed away from plans to abolish the agency.” In a statement, Tricia McLauglin, assistant secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), said, “Federal Emergency Management will shift from bloated, DC-centric dead weight to a lean, deployable disaster force that empowers state actors to provide relief for their citizens. The old processes are being replaced because they failed Americans in real emergencies for decades.”Â
“Changes in the agency will probably amount to a ‘rebranding’ that will emphasize state leaders’ roles in disaster response,” per the Post.Â
The announcement comes after the deadly Guadalupe River flood in Texas on July 4. Heavy rainfall flooded the Guadalupe River, causing the river to rise nearly 30 feet in less than an hour in the early morning of July 4. The flood damaged homes and summer camps, killing at least 120 people, including 36 children. More than 160 people remained missing when Trump and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) surveyed the aftermath of the flooding on Friday.Â
Since the tragedy, the government’s ability to warn and respond to natural disasters has come under scrutiny. Some have blamed agency cuts for impairing emergency response efforts, making people less safe. Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D–Fla.) has called for DHS Secretary Kristi Noem to be investigated for needlessly delaying the disbursement of funds by requiring personal approval of FEMA resources in excess of $100,000. On Friday, three Democrats from the House Oversight Committee sent letters to FEMA, the Commerce Department’s inspector general, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration demanding answers to concerns regarding “the apparent delay in FEMA’s response efforts cause by the politicization of the agency and its funding.” Â
Trump’s apparent walkback from abolishing the agency marks a stark contrast from ear
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