Trump teases FEMA reform, wants states in control of disaster response

Jan 23

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Karah Rucker Anchor/Reporter

By Karah Rucker (Anchor/Reporter), Michael Edwards (Video Editor)

President Donald Trump is advocating for a major shift in the way the U.S. handles emergency responses, suggesting that states, rather than FEMA, should take the lead. In an interview with Fox News, Trump criticized FEMA’s handling of disasters under the Biden administration, claiming the agency has “not done its job” in recent years.

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“FEMA has not done their job for the last four years,” Trump said. “FEMA is going to be a whole big discussion very shortly because I would rather see the states take care of their own problems… and then the federal government can help them out with the money.”

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States should lead; federal government should provide aid

Trump argued that state governments should be responsible for emergency response, with federal support limited to financial aid. He emphasized that states should manage their own crises without what he called interference from FEMA.

He pointed to Oklahoma as an example, stating that if a tornado strikes, the state should handle the response with federal aid dollars, but not federal workers.

FEMA is a government agency with more than 20,000 employees.

Trump to visit disaster areas nationwide

On Friday, Jan. 24, Trump will travel across the country, from North Carolina to California, to visit areas devastated by natural disasters, including Hurricane Helene’s historic floods and the LA Palisades wildfires.

Trump has long criticized FEMA’s disaster response, arguing that it has been influenced by political bias and needs reform. Alongside fellow GOP leaders, he has called for changes to the agency.

Democrats respond to Trump’s FEMA criticism

However, Democrats largely disagree with these claims, defending the agency’s work and its necessity.

California Democratic Rep. Jared Huffman reposted a Trump-Hannity clip on X, writing, “Saying we should get rid of FEMA and force people to fend for themselves is an appalling take from President Trump. The federal government is here to help the people of America – not leave them in the lurch when disaster strikes.”

It remains unclear whether Trump will propose an alternative to FEMA or overhaul the agency. Trump teased during his Fox interview with Sean Hannity that announcements on FEMA’s future will be made soon.

Tags: California, FEMA, flooding, hurricane, natural disaster, North Carolina, Pacific Palisades, Wildfire

[Karah Rucker]

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP IS CALLING FOR A MAJOR SHIFT IN HOW THE U.S. HANDLES EMERGENCY RESPONSES, SUGGESTING THAT STATES, NOT FEMA, SHOULD TAKE THE LEAD. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH FOX NEWS, TRUMP CRITICIZED FEMA’S

HANDLING OF DISASTERS UNDER THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, SAYING IT’S “NOT DONE ITS JOB” IN RECENT YEARS.

“Fema has not done their job for the last four years.

“Fema is going to be a whole big discussion very shortly because i would rather see the states take care of their own problems.

“I love oklahoma, but if they get hit by a tornado or something, and then the federal government can help them out with the money.”

TRUMP ARGUES STATE GOVERNMENTS SHOULD BE IN CHARGE OF EMERGENCY RESPONSE, WITH FEDERAL SUPPORT LIMITED TO FINANCIAL AID.

TRUMP SAYS STATES SHOULD BE EMPOWERED TO MANAGE THEIR OWN CRISES WITHOUT INTERFERENCE FROM FEMA.

HE POINTED TO OKLAHOMA AS AN EXAMPLE, SAYING IF A TORNADO STRIKES, THE STATE SHOULD MANAGE THE RESPONSE – WITH FEDERAL AID DOLLARS – BUT NOT FEDERAL WORKERS.

FEMA IS A GOVERNMENT AGENCY CONSISTING OF MORE THAN 20 THOUSAND EMPLOYEES.

TRUMP – TEASING TO FOX’S SEAN HANNITY THAT ANNOUNCEMENTS ON FEMA’S FUTURE WILL BE MADE SOON.

TRUMP WILL BE TRAVELING COAST TO COAST ON FRIDAY – FROM NORTH CAROLINA TO CALIFORNIA – VISITING AREAS RAVAGED BY NATURAL DISASTERS – FROM HURRICANE HELENE’S HISTORIC FLOODS TO THE LA PALISADES WILDFIRES.

TRUMP HAS LONG CRITICIZED FEMA’S RESPONSE TO DISASTERS –

HE ALONGSIDE FELLOW GOP LEADERS HAVE ARGUED FEMA’S RESPONSE HAS BEEN TAINTED BY POLITICAL BIASES AND NEEDS REFORM.

BUT DEMOCRATS HAVE LARGELY DISAGREED WITH THE CLAIMS – BACKING THE WORK OF THE AGENCY AND THE NEED FOR IT.

DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMAN OF CALIFORNIA “JARED HUFFMAN” REPOSTED A TRUMP-HANNITY CLIP ON X WITH THE CAPTION –

“Saying we should get rid of FEMA and force people to fend for themselves is an appalling take from President Trump. The federal government is here to help the people of America – not leave them in the lurch when disaster strikes.

PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS NOT ANNOUNCED HIS PICK TO LEAD FEMA.
AND IT’S STILL UNCLEAR IF HE WILL PROPOSE AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE AGENCY OR OVERHAUL IT.

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