Shortly after beginning his second term, President Trump declared his intention to recommend the disbandment of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), labeling it as inefficient and overly bureaucratic.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was even more direct during a March cabinet meeting, stating unequivocally that FEMA would be eliminated.
However, in light of the recent deadly floods in Texas, the administration has shifted away from calls to dismantle the agency. Instead, officials are now emphasizing plans to reform FEMA, framing this as the original objective all along amid heightened focus on federal disaster response.
Russell T. Vought, director of the Office of Management and Budget, told reporters on Friday that the president remains committed to demanding accountability and efficiency across federal agencies, including FEMA.
This reversal has contributed to uncertainty about FEMA’s future, especially as the agency faces leadership challenges, including the departure of acting director Cameron Hamilton in May. Hamilton left after affirming FEMA’s critical role in supporting communities during emergencies, shortly following Noem’s call to abolish the agency.
Founded in 1979 by President Jimmy Carter, FEMA coordinates federal disaster relief efforts and supports states when local resources are overwhelmed.
President Trump has consistently argued that disaster response should primarily be managed by states rather than the federal government, reflecting the current system’s design.
His position on FEMA’s fate has been inconsistent, at times advocating for its elimination.
During a January visit to hurricane-impacted North Carolina, Trump sharply criticized FEMA, describing the agency as ineffective and calling its performance a 'disaster.'
On other occasions, the administration has suggested scaling back FEMA or redefining its mission. In late January, Trump signed an executive order establishing a review council to evaluate FEMA and propose improvements.
More recently, Noem has softened her stance, praising FEMA’s efficient response to the Texas floods during a recent cabinet meeting.
She remarked that the agency is cutting through bureaucratic red tape, streamlining operations in line with the president’s vision.
During his Friday visit to the flood zone in Texas, Trump acknowledged progress within FEMA, crediting the agency’s current leadership.
“We have some good people running FEMA,” he said. “It’s about time we got some good ones. They failed us in North Carolina, but after January 20, they fixed things quickly.”
The White House reiterated that the president’s plan has always been to reform FEMA rather than dismantle it.
A spokesperson for the administration emphasized the goal of transforming FEMA into a more efficient agency that empowers states to lead disaster responses without unnecessary federal interference. The administration credited swift federal action for the effective response to the Texas floods and indicated further reforms will be announced soon.
According to Vought, FEMA currently holds $13 billion in reserves, assuring that Texas will receive all necessary resources to manage the flood’s aftermath. More than 170 people remain missing in Texas, including 27 campers and staff at Camp Mystic, a girls’ summer camp on the Guadalupe River, where several individuals have not yet been accounted for.
Despite official praise for the federal response, there are reports suggesting FEMA was slow to deploy key teams for coordination and search-and-rescue operations. A policy introduced in June requires all expenditures over $100,000, including deployment of such teams, to receive direct approval from Secretary Noem.
Additionally, the agency reportedly failed to answer nearly two-thirds of calls to its disaster assistance hotline shortly after the floods, a situation attributed to recent cuts in call center contractors.
Democrats on the House Oversight Committee have requested detailed explanations from the administration regarding preparedness and response to the floods, expressing concerns over potential delays caused by leadership decisions.
In their letter, committee members voiced apprehension that Secretary Noem’s actions may have hindered FEMA’s crisis response and questioned whether she took timely steps to address the emergency.
The administration defended its response, asserting that planned reforms will help FEMA better fulfill its mission.
A Homeland Security spokeswoman stated the federal emergency management system will evolve from a cumbersome, centralized bureaucracy into a streamlined, deployable force that empowers states to provide relief directly to affected citizens.
Andrew Morris, a history professor at Union College, noted that federal disaster relief has traditionally been a bipartisan, widely accepted responsibility.
He explained that while bureaucracies like FEMA are open to reform, the administration’s approach appears aimed at reducing the federal role and shifting more responsibility and costs to states—a challenge when disasters exceed local capacities.
Morris, author of 'When Natural Disasters Became National Disasters: Hurricane Camille and the New Politics of Disaster Relief,' said FEMA functioned more effectively when it operated independently from the Department of Homeland Security.
He expressed skepticism that the current administration’s organizational changes will improve results, suggesting that restoring FEMA as a standalone federal agency could enhance its agility and service orientation.
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