In a move aimed at streamlining federal emergency response, Representatives Byron Donalds (R-FL) and Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) have introduced bipartisan legislation to remove the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and reinstate it as an independent, Cabinet-level agency.
The bill, H.R. 2308 – “The FEMA Independence Act of 2025,” seeks to address concerns about FEMA’s perceived bureaucracy and inefficiency by placing it directly under the President’s oversight. The legislation also mandates that FEMA’s Senate-confirmed leader possess significant experience in emergency management and homeland security.
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“FEMA has become overly-bureaucratic, overly-politicized, overly-inefficient, and substantial change is needed to best serve the American people,” stated Congressman Donalds. “When disaster strikes, quick and effective action must be the standard––not the exception. It is imperative that FEMA is removed from the bureaucratic labyrinth of DHS and instead is designated to report directly to the President of the United States.”
Congressman Moskowitz, the first Emergency Management Director elected to Congress, echoed Donalds’ concerns, stating, “As these emergencies continue to grow larger and more widespread, the American people deserve a federal response that is efficient and fast. To achieve that, FEMA should be reformed.” He argued that DHS has become too large and slow to effectively oversee FEMA’s critical functions.
The bill aims to refocus FEMA on its core mission of responding to disasters, rather than functioning primarily as a grant agency. “This commonsense bill will help set those priorities back where they should be,” Moskowitz said.
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The legislation has been referred to the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security–Subcommittee on Emergency Management and Technology for consideration.
The bipartisan effort has garnered attention, with coverage on Fox News Digital and Fox News Channel, highlighting the lawmakers’ shared commitment to improving FEMA’s effectiveness.
The bill’s introduction reflects a growing recognition of the need to reform FEMA’s structure to ensure a more efficient and effective response to natural disasters and other emergencies.
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