One of the federal government’s most recognizable—and controversial—agencies is on the chopping block. President Donald Trump announced this week that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will begin a phased shutdown, with its core responsibilities redistributed across state governments and the executive branch.
The decision, confirmed by White House and Homeland Security officials, marks a dramatic shift in how federal disaster aid will be administered. FEMA, which currently operates with an annual budget of around $30 billion, will see its role greatly diminished as Trump fulfills a long-standing promise to reduce what he views as bloated and inefficient federal oversight.
Speaking to reporters Tuesday, Trump laid out his vision: “We want to wean off of FEMA and bring it down to the state level. We’re moving it back to the states so the governors can handle it.” He added that disaster relief funds will be issued directly from the president’s office, cutting out the agency middleman altogether.
This change, Trump said, would result in more focused aid—and less of it. “We’re going to give out less money,” he stated plainly. “It’s going to be from the president’s office.” He cited a recent aid package of $71 million—granted after a request for $120 million—as an example of the new approach, asserting the state was “very happy” despite receiving far less than requested.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, whose department oversees FEMA, confirmed her department is already preparing states for the shift. “You’ve been very clear that you want to see FEMA eliminated as it exists today,” Noem told Trump during a meeting in the Oval Office. “So I’m preparing all of these governors that they will have more control over the decisions on how they respond to their communities so that it can happen faster,”
Noem emphasized that under the new model, the federal government would intervene only in catastrophic disasters, leaving routine emergencies to the discretion and capability of each state.
The administration has indicated that this restructuring could begin immediately after the 2025 hurricane season ends in November. FEMA’s much-criticized handling of Hurricane Milton’s aftermath in Florida last year appears to have accelerated the urgency behind the plan.
Internal whistleblower reports alleged that FEMA staff had been instructed not to assist residents with visible pro-Trump affiliations, triggering widespread backlash and investigations.
In addition, prioritization of aid to illegal immigrants over American citizens under the Biden administration further eroded public confidence in FEMA’s neutrality, critics argue—especially among conservative leaders and voters.
