Can President Trump get rid of FEMA? What We Know: Hollywood Life
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President Donald Trump suggested on Friday that he was considering “getting rid of” FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) after visiting disaster zones in California and North Carolina.
“FEMA has been a very big disappointment,” the Republican president remarked. It’s bureaucratic. It’s also very slow.” FEMA, I believe, is not good. I think when you have a problem like this, I think you want to use your state to fix it and not… pic.twitter.com/SkLqsj8bQ7
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 24, 2025
Find out more below.
What Does FEMA Do?
The agency was designed to help the United States prepare for and recover from various natural disasters. FEMA works with local governments to help those who were impacted by a disaster, such as losing a home in a wildfire or a hurricane.
FEMA only steps into a local situation when a state makes a formal request to the government for federal aid or when the natural disaster overwhelms local officials’ abilities. The president must then sign a declaration affirming that the area would receive assistance.
FEMA is part of the Department of Homeland Security and relies on an annual operating budget and disaster relief fund, both of which Congress must replenish each year to support states in disaster recovery and preparedness efforts.
Can Trump Get Rid of FEMA?
President Trump does not have the unilateral authority to eliminate FEMA, according to current federal laws.
While the president can propose budget cuts or changes to agencies, the ultimate authority to pass laws–such as those that could reorganize or even eliminate FEMA–lies with Congress. Trump would have to get the support of lawmakers to make such a change. However, both Republican and Democratic legislators have historically supported FEMA. Let the state deal with the hurricanes, tornadoes, and other disasters. FEMA arrives and doesn’t have any knowledge of the area. They have never been in the area and want to tell you rules you’ve not heard of. They want people who aren’t up to par with the ones you have. FEMA turned out to have been a disaster.”
