In a sweeping move to reform the nation’s emergency management system, President Donald Trump this week signed an executive order signaling a major overhaul of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and other federal disaster response efforts. The order aims to redirect authority and resources to state and local governments, placing greater emphasis on individual preparedness and risk-informed infrastructure planning.
The order, titled “Achieving Efficiency Through State and Local Preparedness,” charges National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and relevant agency heads with developing a new policy framework that shifts away from an “all-hazards” federal approach and instead focuses on localized resilience strategies.
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“This order empowers State, local, and individual preparedness and injects common sense into infrastructure prioritization and strategic investments,” Trump wrote. “It’s about building communities and economies that are truly resilient to global and dynamic threats.”
The move follows Trump’s sharp criticism of FEMA, which he has called “a disaster” and “a very big disappointment” in handling relief efforts, particularly after Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton devastated parts of the Southeast last year.
“Despite obligating nearly $30 billion in disaster aid each of the past three years, FEMA has managed to leave vulnerable Americans without the resources or support they need when they need it most,” Trump wrote in his executive order.
The new directive is expected to increase state authority over disaster preparations and recovery efforts, shifting control away from the federal government.
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FEMA has been under intense public scrutiny following reports that agency employees were allegedly instructed to withhold aid from certain homes based on political messages.
In November, former FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance crew leader Marn’i Washington was fired after reportedly telling employees to avoid providing aid to homes that displayed Trump campaign signs in Florida following Hurricane Milton.
The agency has also been criticized for being unprepared in the wake of Hurricane Milton, with reports showing that:
- FEMA received 900,000 calls from disaster survivors in just one week, yet failed to answer 47% of them.
- Millions of dollars were allocated to house illegal migrants in New York City hotels instead of being used for disaster-stricken Americans.
The Trump administration has already begun implementing changes, conducting mass layoffs at FEMA and firing four employees in February who were responsible for misallocating taxpayer funds to house illegal migrants.
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The administration has also ordered FEMA, along with other federal agencies, to remove any mention of climate change, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) from official documents, signaling a dramatic shift in federal disaster response priorities.
“For far too long, state and local governments have neglected investing in resilience, infrastructure, and disaster preparedness because they can count on an unlimited backstop from the federal government,” White House spokesman Kush Desai said. “This unsustainable and irresponsible strategy has resulted in needless destruction and deaths of everyday Americans.”
Desai added that Trump’s new approach will focus on “shoring up disaster relief apparatus” by working with state and local governments to prioritize preparedness and resilience over reliance on federal emergency funding.
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While the executive order does not immediately eliminate FEMA, Trump has previously suggested dismantling the agency altogether, calling its bureaucracy “inefficient and ineffective.”
His January remarks in North Carolina suggested that FEMA’s long-term future remains uncertain.
“I think we’re going to recommend that FEMA go away,” Trump said at the time. “I’ll sign an executive order to begin the process of reforming FEMA or getting rid of FEMA. I think FEMA’s not good.”
As Trump continues to reshape federal disaster response, the role of FEMA is expected to shrink, with more disaster management responsibilities shifting to the states—a move that could redefine how America prepares for and recovers from natural disasters in the years ahead.
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