A planned meeting by the FEMA Review Council, set up by President Trump to suggest reforms for FEMA, was unexpectedly canceled on Thursday. This council has been working for months to create a final report, which was supposed to be shared during the meeting. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem had even left a Congressional hearing early to attend.
When asked about the cancellation, the Department of Homeland Security directed inquiries to the White House, which did not respond. Attendees who had registered to watch the meeting were notified that it was postponed, with no explanation given.
This council was formed in late January. Coincidentally, it was the same day Trump proposed eliminating FEMA after seeing the damage from Hurricane Helene in North Carolina. His repeated threats to dismantle FEMA align with his plans to shift more responsibility for disaster response to the states.
The council meeting was particularly important because members were supposed to present and vote on a key recommendations report. This report encouraged public participation, allowing feedback until December 31. Experts had praised the council for their efforts to invite diverse input, but tension grew as the process drew to a close.
A draft of the report faced major cuts—slashed from over 160 pages to just around 20—causing concern among council members. They feared that important suggestions might be lost or replaced with ideas not supported by the council.
The council, co-chaired by Noem and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, includes members primarily from Republican-led states. Some prominent figures include Texas Governor Greg Abbott and former Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant.
If Trump backs the reforms, he can implement some changes directly, but others would need Congressional approval. Recent statistics show that effective disaster response relies heavily on state and local agencies, highlighting the importance of continued support and transparency in FEMA’s operations.
This cancellation raises questions on what the future holds for FEMA and its ability to handle disasters, a concern many Americans are paying attention to, especially in a time filled with increasing natural disasters.
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Donald Trump, Kristi Noem, Glenn Youngkin, Pete Hegseth, Phil Bryant, Disaster planning and response, Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, United States Congress, General news, Congress, Politics, Greg Abbott, Florida, Executive orders, Mississippi, Virginia, U.S. news
