Trump’s FEMA Reform Push Limits Federal Role

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Trump’s FEMA Reform Push Limits Federal Role \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ FEMA’s acting administrator David Richardson announced a plan to significantly shift disaster response and recovery responsibilities to states during the 2025 hurricane season. The move, aligned with President Trump’s government downsizing agenda, could reduce federal cost-sharing and limit FEMA’s role to legally mandated duties. Critics warn this could strain states lacking resources as extreme weather events grow more frequent and costly.

Quick Looks

Acting FEMA chief David Richardson calls for a “return to state primacy.”
The change is part of Trump’s federal downsizing strategy.
FEMA’s 2025 hurricane season plan due to Kristi Noem by next Friday.
States may shoulder more financial burden, reducing federal cost-share.
13-member FEMA review council established to recommend reforms.
Trump previously floated eliminating FEMA entirely.
The shift comes as the U.S. faces rising climate disasters.
Over 2,000 FEMA staff have left since Trump took office.
Some states like Florida and Texas are prepared, others less so.
Critics question how poor states will manage large-scale disasters.

Deep Look

Trump Administration Pushes FEMA Overhaul, Plans to Shift Disaster Recovery to States

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is bracing for a dramatic transformation ahead of what scientists predict will be an intense 2025 hurricane season. Acting FEMA Administrator David Richardson revealed in a staff town hall Thursday that the agency will begin shifting key disaster recovery responsibilities away from the federal government and onto the shoulders of individual states.

The change aligns with President Donald Trump’s broader effort to overhaul and reduce the scope of the federal government. FEMA, once a linchpin in America’s disaster response apparatus, may soon take a backseat — coordinating aid only “when deemed necessary,” as Richardson described.

‘Primacy to the States’: A New FEMA Mandate

Speaking candidly to agency staff, Richardson emphasized that FEMA’s 2025 approach would “return primacy to the states.” While FEMA will still provide federal assistance, its focus will pivot to strengthening state-led responses, rather than leading them outright.

This represents a fundamental shift in disaster management strategy. Under past administrations, FEMA led coordination during large-scale crises. Under Trump, that approach may soon be history.

Richardson said the agency is “to a great degree” ready for disaster season and plans to submit a comprehensive seasonal preparedness blueprint to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem by next week.

Shrinking the Federal Role

This announcement comes amid internal turmoil at FEMA and ongoing debates over the agency’s future. Former acting chief Cameron Hamilton was replaced last week after testifying to Congress that FEMA should not be eliminated — a position that apparently contradicted Trump’s vision.

Richardson stopped short of endorsing FEMA’s elimination but made clear that his job is to carry out Trump’s orders to minimize the federal government’s footprint.

A central element of this plan is to revise the traditional cost-sharing arrangement. Currently, FEMA typically covers 75% of disaster-related expenses like infrastructure repair. That number could drop, Richardson hinted, requiring states to tap into their own emergency reserves.

“There should be some budgeting things that they have,” he said. “I bet (Texas) Governor Abbott has a rainy-day fund for fires, tornadoes, hurricanes, and he doesn’t spend it on something else.”

State Readiness in Question

While Richardson praised states like Texas and Florida for their preparedness, he acknowledged that not all states are equally equipped to manage large-scale disasters.

That imbalance has raised alarms among disaster policy experts. Jeremy Edwards, FEMA’s former deputy public affairs director under President Biden, warned that the restructuring could leave resource-poor states vulnerable.

“It’s unclear what they mean when they say returning primacy to the states,” said Edwards. “Not every state will be able to take on more of that responsibility.”

Indeed, the shift comes at a critical time: 2024 saw 90 major disaster declarations and 27 climate-related events causing over $1 billion in damage. With climate events growing in frequency and severity, critics argue that FEMA’s scaled-back approach could prove dangerous.

Mission Overhaul and Staff Cuts

In addition to the operational shift, FEMA will begin a full “mission analysis” to ensure that the agency adheres only to functions authorized by statute. “We will not do anything that is not in the statute,” Richardson said. “If we are, we are wasting the American people’s money.”

Programs outside those bounds could be on the chopping block.

Already, more than 2,000 full-time FEMA employees — roughly one-third of the agency’s workforce — have exited since Trump returned to office in January.

When asked about further cuts, Richardson didn’t rule them out, stating that any programs not statutorily protected would be considered “targets.”

Oversight Council and Future Uncertainty

To further drive reform, Trump has established a 13-member FEMA review council led by Kristi Noem and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The council is tasked with evaluating FEMA’s legal mandate, effectiveness, and alignment with Trump’s vision.

Meanwhile, Trump’s recent handling of disaster declarations has broken from precedent. While he approved a delayed disaster declaration for Arkansas this week, he rejected requests from Washington and West Virginia — signaling a new and more selective approach.

As the Atlantic hurricane season looms just weeks away, states may now need to prepare for more than just the storms. They must be ready to handle more of the response and recovery — and do so with less federal support.

For FEMA, this summer could mark the start of a new era — one where its role is dramatically reduced, and where the burden of natural disaster recovery shifts firmly to state governments.