As hurricane season ramps up, can Trump unilaterally ‘phase out’ FEMA?
No.
A president alone cannot disband the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) through executive orders.
President Donald Trump has made comments about “phasing out” FEMA after the 2025 hurricane season. He’s considered reassigning disaster relief responsibilities to the state level or relocating a limited-capacity FEMA from the DHS into a new department.
His administration has cut hundreds of employees from the agency through a FEMA Review Council. The firings align with Trump’s goal to cut costs within the federal government.
But Congress is the only entity that can eliminate or reform FEMA. The agency’s structure and responsibilities are outlined in the Stafford Act. Congress would have to amend this act, which would require a new bill to pass in both the U.S. House and Senate for the president to sign.
While its resources are becoming more limited, it’s likely FEMA will still provide aid during the 2025 hurricane season.
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
— Clinton Engelberger
Hurricane season has begun. Does the new FEMA director have experience managing natural disasters?
No.
FEMA Director David Richardson has no prior experience managing responses to natural disasters.
Richardson most recently was the assistant secretary for the Department of Homeland Security’s Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office.
Prior to his government position, Richardson was a combat officer in the U.S. Marine Corps. who served in Afghanistan, Iraq and Africa during the Long War.
He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas.
The Atlantic Hurricane season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30. The peak hurricane season occurs between mid-August and late October.
Since 1850, all of Florida’s coastline has been impacted by at least one hurricane.
In 2024, Florida was struck by three major hurricanes: Debby, Helene and Milton.
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
— Aaron Mammah
