PIERRE, S.D. (SDBA) — Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced plans to eliminate the Federal Emergency Management Agency during a Cabinet meeting on Monday, sparking controversy and raising questions about the future of disaster response in the United States.
Noem, 53, made the brief statement while discussing various Department of Homeland Security operations. She concluded her remarks by saying, “We’re going to eliminate FEMA,” Government Executive reported.
The announcement aligns with President Donald Trump’s longstanding criticism of FEMA. In January, while touring hurricane damage in North Carolina, Trump suggested getting rid of the agency, arguing that states should play a larger role in disaster response.
“FEMA has been a very big disappointment. They cost a tremendous amount of money. It’s very bureaucratic, and it’s very slow,” Trump said at the time. “I think that when there’s a problem with the state, I think that that problem should be taken care of by the state,” Government Executive reported.
However, eliminating FEMA, which is authorized by statute, would likely require congressional action. This could prove challenging, as the agency has historically enjoyed bipartisan support.
A senior DHS official told Government Executive, “We are cutting out wasteful spending and bureaucracy that slows down relief efforts.” They added, “President Trump and Secretary Noem know that disaster recovery efforts are best led by state and local officials, not federal bureaucrats.”
According to CBS News, the announcement comes amid other changes at FEMA, including a recently implemented hiring freeze and a requirement that contract renewals for most of its workforce be approved by DHS.
Critics argue that eliminating FEMA could have severe consequences for disaster response nationwide. According to Vermont Business Magazine, Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., called the plan “a complete non-starter. ”
“Eliminating FEMA’s ability to respond after a disaster hits would be catastrophic not only for flood victims in Vermont, but for hurricane victims in the Carolinas, tornado victims in Kansas, and wildfire victims in California,” Welch said.
Meanwhile, a bipartisan pair of House lawmakers introduced legislation on Monday that would separate FEMA from DHS and establish it as an independent, Cabinet-level agency. This proposal stands in stark contrast to Noem’s elimination plan.
Government Executive reports that Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., and Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., sponsored the bill, arguing that FEMA has become “overly-bureaucratic, overly-politicized [and] overly-inefficient.” under DHS oversight.
As the debate over FEMA’s future unfolds, questions remain about how disaster response would be managed without the federal agency and how this could affect states’ abilities to handle large-scale emergencies.
The South Dakota Broadcasters Association reached out late Monday night to Sec. Noem, South Dakota U.S. Senators John Thune and Mike Rounds, Rep. Dusty Johnson, and Gov. Larry Rhoden for responses about Noem’s statement Monday.
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