Trump threatens to eliminate FEMA during disaster response visits
- Donald Trump criticized FEMA during his visit to North Carolina and California, labeling it ineffective.
- He suggested that states should take responsibility for managing disasters instead of relying on FEMA.
- Trump's proposals may lead to significant changes in the federal disaster response framework.
In January 2025, President Donald Trump visited disaster-affected areas in North Carolina and California, expressing his discontent with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). During a hurricane recovery briefing in Fletcher, North Carolina, he stated that FEMA has been largely ineffective and suggested that responsibilities related to disaster management should be shifted to individual states. Trump emphasized that allowing states to handle disasters would lead to quicker and more efficient responses. He also indicated plans to consider an executive order aimed at reforming or even abolishing FEMA. Trump's comments come amid criticism directed towards former President Joe Biden's handling of disaster responses, particularly in relation to Hurricane Helene. Throughout his visit, Trump voiced support for direct federal funding to states instead of routing aid through FEMA, advocating for a more streamlined disaster relief model. His remarks have sparked debate regarding the agency's future and the balance of responsibilities between federal and state governments in disaster management. While some Republican lawmakers have suggested a reevaluation of FEMA's role, emphasizing the need for state-level autonomy in disaster response, there is still considerable support among many lawmakers for maintaining a federal emergency agency to assist states when they face overwhelming disasters that require federal intervention.