A group of current and former federal emergency management agency (FEMA) employees warned on Monday that the Trump administration is weakening the ability of the disaster response agency and preventing it from completing its mission.
181 current and former employees specifically pointed to a administration policy, in which Homeland Security Secretary Christie Nom needed “all contracts, grants and mission assignments of more than $ 100,000 personal reviews and approval of more than $ 100,000.”
He said that it “reduces FEMA officials and abilities to distribute our mission rapidly.”
“The results of this manual review became tragicly clear during the flood in July 2025 in Keraville, Texas, when the mission assignment delayed up to 72 hours; FEMA’s Urban Search and Rescue Branch chief resigned, citing these delays,” Employees wrote.
He also said that there is no appointed leader who helps the agency and said that its current leader is not eligible for the situation.
This letter comes when the Trump administration has blown up the idea of completely eliminating the agency, and usually demanded to reduce its role, keeping more responsibility on the states.
Employees said that such policies are making things worse.
“The cut in these programs prioritize cost reduction and presence of empowerment [State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial] The participant but an adverse result will result in the result, ”he wrote.
“When we cannot work directly with our SLTT partners in providing training and technical assistance, we lose important opportunities to maintain confidence, strengthen the system, improve preparations and serve American communities, we took an oath to save their most serious needs,” he said.
The Hill has reached the FEMA and Homeland Security Department for comment.
