Trump’s council calls for slimmed-down FEMA that responds to fewer emergencies

President Trump’s special panel deciding FEMA’s future called for an end-it-then-mend-it approach to the disaster-response agency.

The panel said the current incarnation of the Federal Emergency Management Agency should be scrapped but the government still needs some national organization to help states when they get overwhelmed by disasters.

The FEMA Review Council, in its final report, said the agency — part of Homeland Security — is too quick to elevate local disasters into national events, and has become a bottleneck in decision-making, which delays states that are rushing to rebuild.

The report blamed mission creep and a growing D.C.-based bureaucracy for pushing FEMA beyond its core mission.

But the council said having some sort of slimmed-down national coordinator is still critical as a backstop for states.

“It is time to close the chapter on FEMA,” the council said. “’FEMA’ as a brand and as an agency was irreparably damaged by the previous administration’s proclivity to mission creep and endemic program failures. A transformed agency should be established that retains the core missions of FEMA, while highlighting the renewed emphasis on locally executed, state or tribally managed, and federally supported emergency management.”

It called for a phase-in over two or three years where the agency cuts bloated staff in its Washington headquarters and sends people into the field, where they can speed up assistance.

“FEMA is not the first responder, but rather a force multiplier standing shoulder to shoulder with states, tribes, and local governments to ensure rapid and effective recovery,” said DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin. “We are driving ahead, transforming FEMA into a streamlined, mission-focused agency that delivers results.”

Mr. Trump, early last year, had called for abolishing the agency, though that idea had shifted into a demand for major reforms by the end of last year.

The council was tasked with making recommendations.

Thursday’s report said that FEMA has become too lax in declaring disasters, and the federal government automatically ponies up too much money when it does get involved.

The council called for reducing the minimum FEMA share of post-disaster public assistance from 75% to 50% and lowering individual housing assistance from 100% to a 75% share.

Many of the changes, including abolishing and reforming FEMA, would require Congress. But some smaller reforms, such as cutting administrative costs or pushing state, local and tribal authorities to take more of a lead, can be done through executive action, the council said.

The report was particularly critical of the Biden administration, saying it was plagued by staffing shortfalls and bureaucratic botches.

As examples, it cited 2021’s Hurricane Ida and 2022’s floods in Kentucky as instances when survivors faced long delays in getting aid. The council blamed insufficient field staffing and “rigid verification rules.”