States caught unprepared for Trump’s threats to FEMA

[John Farley]

In case you can't read this article because of the WaPo paywall, the gist of it is that:

1. The Trump administration is planning to eliminate a program that funds states to repair levees, elevate flood-prone homes and shore up drinking water systems. The program was built on research showing it is many times less expensive to protect against future damage from natural disasters than to pay for repairs and rebuilding afterward.

2. The president says he wants to eliminate FEMA and shift disaster responsibility to the states.

3. As Trump’s second administration looks to slash federal spending, money given to states by the federal government after disasters strike could also be in jeopardy.

Lots of problems with FEMA have been discussed in other threads here. IMHO this is only going to make those problems even worse, as the states do not have the resources to take up the slack being left to them. More people will be impacted by disasters if we do not do prevention/mitigation work, and they will be doubly victimized when they cannot get help from FEMA. Another example of the administration using a sledge hammer or chainsaw when a surgeon's scalpel is needed.

Washington Post article:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2025/04/05/fema-disaster-states-funding/?utm_campaign=wp_todays_headlines&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&carta-url=https%3A%2F%2Fs2.washingtonpost.com%2Fcar-ln-tr%2F41f6f95%2F67f250ab9c24803604ecd484%2F647bb2dfb5f7f52324107913%2F11%2F55%2F67f250ab9c24803604ecd484

 

[Randy Zipser]

In case you can't read this article because of the WaPo paywall, the gist of it is that:

1. The Trump administration is planning to eliminate a program that funds states to repair levees, elevate flood-prone homes and shore up drinking water systems. The program was built on research showing it is many times less expensive to protect against future damage from natural disasters than to pay for repairs and rebuilding afterward.

2. The president says he wants to eliminate FEMA and shift disaster responsibility to the states.

3. As Trump’s second administration looks to slash federal spending, money given to states by the federal government after disasters strike could also be in jeopardy.

Lots of problems with FEMA have been discussed in other threads here. IMHO this is only going to make those problems even worse, as the states do not have the resources to take up the slack being left to them. More people will be impacted by disasters if we do not do prevention/mitigation work, and they will be doubly victimized when they cannot get help from FEMA. Another example of the administration using a sledge hammer or chainsaw when a surgeon's scalpel is needed.

Washington Post article:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2025/04/05/fema-disaster-states-funding/?utm_campaign=wp_todays_headlines&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&carta-url=https%3A%2F%2Fs2.washingtonpost.com%2Fcar-ln-tr%2F41f6f95%2F67f250ab9c24803604ecd484%2F647bb2dfb5f7f52324107913%2F11%2F55%2F67f250ab9c24803604ecd484

Thanks for this information, John. The gist of the article is exactly right. Florida is the "poster child" (more like "whipping post") for the "double hardship" that its residents face every time (now, pretty-much annually) a major hurricane hits the state. Residents must endure endless foot-dragging from both FEMA and their insurance companies [assuming they can still afford full property insurance (and first pay the deductible)] to get restitution from their claims. For many, even far inland from the coast, this is an annual nightmare that the FL legislature seems to be in no rush to fix, because they worry more about the big insurers leaving the state than helping out the residents. I must say, however, that the current 2025 session, for the first time, the governor is looking to abolish the state property tax, while the legislature favors a half-cent reduction statewide in the state sales tax (6.00%), all to relieve the soaring cost-of-living in FL. I'll believe it when I see it...

Trump's actions will do nothing positive to help and will likely make dealing with a state-run, FEMA-style agency much more difficult and confusing for residents who already rely on state funding for so many other needs. Trump does not realize--or does not care--that by shifting federal resources (like FEMA) to the states will quickly overwhelm state personnel and legislatively-appropriated budgets. The quality and number of services provided will likely plummet, given less (if any) support from Trump's Washington! Either way, the services that FEMA now offers could certainly use improvement. However, one bright spot is that Florida does have a very good Emergency Management Department, especially in tropical-weather events, thank goodness!.

 

[Matt Zumbrunn]

I am interested to see how this plays out. We were awarded a FEMA Assistance to Firefighter's grant last year to get Personal Protective Equipment. We haven't even applied for the federal match yet, but we got a letter we are being audited last week. We put in again this year as it is a lifeline for rural fire departments. I am wondering if it will go away with FEMA potentially disappearing. I contacted my senator and he said he is pro AFG.

 

[Mike Smith]

FEMA has made an excellent case -- for its discontinuation. It is incompetent, takes credit for things others have done, and spends considerable tax dollars on outside resources promoting itself.

I offer a vision for going forward, here: Advice to President Trump Pertaining to FEMA