Trump Advisors Recommend FEMA Cuts in New Report

Media Contact

Ivan Moreno
Strategic Communications Manager

WASHINGTON D.C. –A report from the group created to advise President Trump on the future of the federal disaster response endorsed slashing the FEMA budget and foisting costs and responsibility on states. The FEMA Review Council, created last year to evaluate the agency's budget and process, released recommendations that NRDC experts say overlooks the damage already done by deep staffing cuts, frozen funding, and the undermining of disaster declarations and assistance, even as the toll from floods, wildfires, and other disasters continues to rise. 

The following is a reaction from Joel Scata, Senior Attorney at NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council):

"FEMA needs reform, and there was a real chance to deliver it. But the cuts recommended in this report will make America less safe by weakening the nation's emergency response safety net when hurricanes, floods, and wildfires are growing more frequent, more intense, and more expensive."

Background

As FEMA’s capacity has significantly shrunk, the administration has halted enforcement of flood-protection standards meant to ensure public buildings and infrastructure are rebuilt to withstand future storms, trapping communities in a costly and dangerous cycle.

Public comments on the future of FEMA have been overwhelmingly in favor of preserving and strengthening the agency. Survivors of disasters have shared powerful stories about how FEMA support helped them secure safe shelter, rebuild homes, and stabilize their communities in the months and years after a catastrophe.

NRDC has called on Congress and the administration to reject proposals that would further weaken FEMA or politicize disaster aid, and instead:

  • Rebuild FEMA’s workforce and expertise so it can respond quickly and fairly to disasters nationwide.
  • Enforce and strengthen resilient building and flood standards to avoid repeatedly rebuilding in harm’s way.
  • Unfreeze and fully fund risk-reduction and resilience grants, so communities can prepare before the next storm, fire, or flood.
  • Protect disaster aid from political interference, ensuring help goes where it’s needed most, when it’s needed most.

NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online activists. Established in 1970, NRDC uses science, policy, law and people power to confront the climate crisis, protect public health and safeguard nature. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Beijing and Delhi (an office of NRDC India Pvt. Ltd).