Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s recent pledge to eliminate the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has alarmed disaster relief experts, who warn the move could leave communities dangerously exposed.
Noem did not elaborate on the plan, and neither FEMA nor the Department of Homeland Security responded to questions about the agency’s future. President Donald Trump has also floated the idea of “getting rid of FEMA.”
Emergency managers say the agency plays a crucial role in disaster response — from coordination and rescue to post-crisis funding. “If FEMA is shut down, I would be fearful for this next hurricane season,” said Carrie Speranza, head of the USA Council of the International Association of Emergency Managers.
Former FEMA Administrator Pete Gaynor echoed the concerns, warning that without FEMA’s coordinating role, disaster response could collapse. “FEMA is that glue that holds it all together,” he said.
Analysts point out that FEMA’s elimination would face legal hurdles, as the agency was formally established by Congress in 2006. Critics say the administration may instead be slowly dismantling it through staffing cuts and operational changes.
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