Donald Trump’s radical policies are drastically impacting the nation’s disaster response division, employees say.
A group of 181 current and former FEMA employees issued a warning this week about major setbacks under Trump’s leadership, according to The Hill. Their biggest concern centers on a new policy requiring Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to personally approve all contracts over $100,000. They say that slows down emergency response efforts, leaving communities vulnerable.
Delays during the July floods in Kerrville, Texas highlighted the issue. FEMA staff reported mission assignments took up to 72 hours to get greenlit. One top official even resigned in protest.
The group also blasted the lack of qualified leadership at FEMA and the administration’s broader goal of cutting back the agency’s role. They argue that moving responsibility to individual states without adequate support only makes disaster response weaker.
Calling their letter the “Katrina Declaration,” the staffers warned the nation is slipping back into the same mistakes that led to the catastrophic response during Hurricane Katrina.
They urged Congress to make FEMA an independent agency and shield it from political interference, especially from the Department of Homeland Security.
While DHS defended the changes as efforts to cut red tape and deliver funds faster, FEMA staff say the reality on the ground tells a different story.
The letter, now public, was sent to the FEMA Review Council and several congressional committees. It echoes concerns shared by employees from other major science and environmental agencies under the Trump administration.
