What is going to replace the United States´ Federal Emergency Management Agency? (2025)
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FEMA to be phased out: Trump Administration proposes local Disaster Response Model on state level, rather than federal
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Critics warn of fragmentation and delays as Federal Emergency Agency faces historic overhaul
In a dramatic shift in U.S. disaster policy, President Donald Trump has announced plans to dismantle the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and replace it with a state-led disaster response model, coordinated loosely through the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The move, which Trump says will “return power to the states,” has drawn sharp criticism from emergency management experts and former FEMA officials who warn it could leave vulnerable communities dangerously exposed.
Simultaneously, forest fire resources are being focused into a new, single force agency, which is also drawing heavy criticism.
“We want to wean off of FEMA,” President Trump said during a June 10 Oval Office briefing. “We’re going to give out less money, and we’re going to do it much differently — directly from the president’s office”.
What Will Replace FEMA?
According to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, the administration is working to build a network of mutual aid agreements among states, allowing them to respond to disasters independently, with federal support reserved for only the most catastrophic events. The new model would eliminate FEMA “as it exists today” and shift much of the responsibility for disaster preparedness, response, and recovery to state governments.
“Governors will have more control over how they respond to their communities,” Noem said. “We’re preparing them to stand on their own two feet”.
The administration has not yet released a formal blueprint for the replacement agency, but insiders suggest it will be a streamlined coordination office within DHS, with limited funding and a focus on interstate logistics rather than direct aid.
Experts warn of fragmentation and delays
Some emergency management professionals have expressed alarm at the plan, especially as the U.S. enters what is expected to be another above-average hurricane and wildfire season. Critics argue that FEMA’s central coordination role is essential for rapid response, resource allocation, and equitable aid distribution.
“You don’t gut the nation’s disaster agency in the middle of a climate-fueled crisis cycle,” said Charles Nyce, a risk management professor at Florida State University. “This could lead to chaos, duplication, and deadly delays”.
The administration has already proposed a $646 million cut to FEMA’s 2026 budget, and internal sources suggest that staff reductions and program eliminations are underway.
What FEMA does — and what may be lost
FEMA currently coordinates disaster declarations, deploys emergency response teams, manages the National Flood Insurance Program, and provides financial assistance to individuals and communities after federally declared disasters. It also supports crisis counseling, disaster unemployment assistance, and temporary housing for displaced families.
Without a centralized agency, experts fear that smaller or poorer states may struggle to mount effective responses, especially in the face of large-scale disasters like hurricanes, wildfires, or earthquakes.
Public reactions
The move has sparked backlash from Democratic lawmakers and some Republican governors, who argue that the federal government has a constitutional responsibility to protect citizens during national emergencies.
“This is not decentralization — it’s abdication,” said Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD). “Disasters don’t respect state lines.”
Meanwhile, Trump supporters have praised the plan as a return to “constitutional federalism” and a way to reduce what they see as wasteful federal spending.
As the hurricane season intensifies and wildfires rage across the West, the future of U.S. disaster response hangs in the balance. Whether the new model can deliver on its promises — or survive its first real test — remains to be seen.
Read more:
https://ctif.org/news/us-wild-land-firefighting-merge-new-single-force-agency-d…
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