What to Expect from FEMA Under the Trump Administration
As the Trump administration prepares to take office in January 2025, one of the critical areas to watch is how the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will operate under its leadership. While FEMA’s core mission has always been disaster response and recovery, the agency has faced significant challenges in recent years. From expanding responsibilities like migrant housing to managing multiple major disasters, FEMA has been stretched thin and plagued by staff turnover issues. Here’s what we predict for FEMA and disaster management over the next four years:
Refocusing on FEMA's Core Mission
One of the most significant shifts is likely to be FEMA returning to its core mission of disaster response and recovery, specifically for natural disasters. Under the Biden administration, FEMA has been tasked with a range of additional responsibilities, including managing housing for migrants and pandemic responses. While these are important issues, they’ve diverted resources from FEMA’s primary purpose. By narrowing its focus, FEMA will be better positioned to respond effectively to hurricanes, floods, wildfires, and other natural disasters.
A Shift in Mitigation Priorities
We expect a pivot in FEMA’s mitigation strategies, favoring projects that protect the most critical assets and prevent the highest dollar-value damages. This could mean fewer projects targeting disadvantaged or underserved communities, as the equity-based approach championed by the Biden administration may take a backseat. Instead, the focus will likely return to large-scale infrastructure projects that provide measurable cost savings and protect essential national assets like transportation hubs, energy infrastructure, and densely populated urban centers.
Rebuilding Appalachia After Hurricane Helene
One immediate challenge for FEMA will be addressing the devastation left by Hurricane Helene, which tore through Appalachia earlier this year. The Biden-Harris administration was heavily criticized for its slow response to the disaster and for blocking private aid deliveries. Appalachia has long been in need of investment, and we anticipate the Trump administration will prioritize fixing the region as a showcase of its disaster recovery plans. The region’s recovery could serve as an opportunity to demonstrate FEMA’s renewed focus on efficiency and effectiveness.
Staff Turnover at FEMA
FEMA may undergo significant personnel changes as the new administration takes over. During any Administration change, employees on the fence about retirement or leaving the agency will often use it as an opportunity to step away. Additionally, proposed return-to-office mandates may force out a lot of staff members. FEMA already deals with issues from high turnover. We envision this being disruptive to applicants going through the FEMA Public Assistance process, as applicant point-of-contact changes delay the recovery process.
Efficiency & Accountability
The Trump administration is also expected to focus on cleaning up inefficiencies and eliminating wasteful spending within FEMA. Streamlining processes and cutting unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles could improve disaster response times and ensure funding is spent wisely. That said, funding for disaster recovery and mitigation is likely to remain robust, as it enjoys bipartisan support in Congress. Investments in rebuilding communities and preventing future damages are critical priorities that transcend party lines.
Hopes for Faster Audits & Closeouts
Looking Ahead
While these changes could make FEMA more efficient and better equipped to handle natural disasters, the ultimate hope is for fewer disasters altogether. Aging infrastructure and population growth in vulnerable areas mean that disasters are becoming more frequent and more expensive. FEMA’s work is crucial, but a proactive approach to disaster prevention, coupled with efforts to address root causes, is the only way to truly protect American communities.
As we enter a new chapter for FEMA, there’s optimism that these changes will result in faster, fairer, and more effective disaster preparedness, response and recovery. Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: the agency’s role in protecting the country has never been more vital.