A 12-person council of disaster experts appointed by President Trump has recommended sweeping changes to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The report, approved at a public meeting, proposes streamlining disaster assistance, raising the federal involvement threshold, and shrinking the National Flood Insurance Program. Key recommendations include:
- Simplified aid for survivors to reduce bureaucratic hurdles.
- Higher disaster severity thresholds for federal intervention, shifting more responsibility to states.
- Reduced National Flood Insurance Program funding.
The changes, if enacted, would represent the most significant reimagining of disaster policy in decades. Some reforms may require congressional approval. The White House has not yet indicated whether President Trump endorses the recommendations.
Former Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant, a council member, stated that many Americans believe FEMA has failed in its mission. Former Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin emphasized the need to accelerate federal aid and reduce bureaucracy. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin called the report a 'clear direction' for FEMA reform.
The council's recommendations align partially with a bipartisan bill currently under congressional consideration. Dominik Lett, a FEMA expert at the Cato Institute, noted that some proposals could reduce federal disaster costs but warned that implementation details remain unclear.