Executive Summary
The Story So Far
Why This Matters
Who Thinks What?
Over 180 current and former Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) employees have sent a letter to Congress, warning that the Trump administration’s extensive overhaul of the agency risks undermining its authority and capabilities, potentially leading to failures reminiscent of Hurricane Katrina. The “Katrina Declaration” accuses President Donald Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem of eroding the agency’s response capacity and appointing unqualified leadership, urging Congress to protect FEMA from political interference.
Allegations of Eroding Capabilities
The letter contends that reforms implemented over two decades since Hurricane Katrina, which exposed significant flaws in federal emergency response and killed nearly 1,400 people, are being unraveled. The authors argue the administration is moving to either abolish or drastically diminish FEMA’s role.
Specifically, the employees cite the appointment of David Richardson, a former Marine without prior natural disaster management experience, to lead FEMA in May. They also highlight Secretary Noem’s policy requiring her personal approval for any contract or grant exceeding $100,000.
Impact on Disaster Response
This new spending control policy reportedly created issues during the July Texas floods, hindering FEMA teams from rapidly pre-positioning search and rescue units or fulfilling requests for aerial imagery. Additionally, thousands of calls from survivors went unanswered after a contract for call center staff expired.
The letter also notes a significant exodus of staff, with approximately one-third of FEMA’s full-time employees departing this year. This includes many veteran leaders crucial to rebuilding the agency after the 2005 Katrina disaster.
Calls for Independence and Protection
Further concerns include the Department of Homeland Security’s decision to slash hundreds of millions of dollars in national preparedness funding. President Trump also stated in June his intention to phase out FEMA after hurricane season.
The “Katrina Declaration” urges Congress to establish FEMA as a Cabinet-level, independent agency. This move, the authors argue, would insulate it from political influence and empower it to respond swiftly to disasters, thereby preventing future national catastrophes and the potential dissolution of the agency.
In summary, the letter from current and former FEMA employees outlines grave concerns about the agency’s current trajectory under the Trump administration, warning of a rollback of post-Katrina reforms, diminished operational capacity, and significant staff departures. The communication serves as a stark warning to Congress regarding the potential for future disaster response failures.
