Trump Wants To Eliminate FEMA, Texas Hill Country Needs The Agency Now More Than Ever
Following devastating floods in Central Texas, Governor Greg Abbott commended President Trump for rapidly authorizing a major disaster declaration for Kerr County, the most severely affected region.
“The swift and robust action by President Trump is an extraordinary help to our response,” Abbott stated.
The declaration released federal funding for disaster response activities, including debris cleanup, around-the-clock search and rescue operations, and essential services like temporary housing and food for flood victims who lost their homes.
However, this type of federal aid may not continue long-term.
President Trump has proposed dismantling the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which distributes billions annually to disaster-stricken communities. His position is that states should assume greater responsibility for disaster response and preparation.
Texas officials are supporting Trump’s vision for this transformation.
This spring, the president established a council comprising Cabinet members, governors, and emergency management specialists to recommend FEMA reforms. Both Governor Abbott and Texas’s chief emergency official, W. Nim Kidd, serve on this council.
“FEMA is slow and clunky and doesn’t solve the needs of those who need it most,” Abbott remarked during the
FEMA Review Council’s inaugural meeting in May.
As Texas manages the current flood crisis, the state officials directing response efforts are simultaneously evaluating how to restructure or potentially eliminate the nation’s primary disaster response agency.
The president has indicated that federal involvement in disaster response should be significantly reduced, though the practical implementation remains unclear.
In June, Trump announced that FEMA would decrease overall disaster funding to states. Reports indicate that an internal agency document revealed FEMA leadership was exploring policy changes that would make it more difficult for states to obtain post-disaster funding. FEMA currently allocates approximately $45 billion annually for nationwide disaster relief.
