91��ɫ

�հ��ܳ���’s plan to eliminate FEMA is a very bad idea

A symbolic visit by an American president to a disaster site can be constructive. Former President Joe Biden’s allowed him to both show leadership and offer comfort in moments of national tragedy.

In contrast, a bombastic President Donald Trump used his on Jan. 24 to tour disaster sites in North Carolina and Los Angeles while promoting his litany of grievances and rambling about his dislike of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

It takes a perverse set of skills for a president to act in a way that squanders the opportunity to genuinely exhibit compassion for disaster victims while also lowering the morale of emergency workers at the same time.

�հ��ܳ���’s announcement to overhaul or eliminate FEMA — especially in the midst — is unreasonable and foolish.

�հ��ܳ���’s criticisms

In a on Jan. 22, Trump suggested that FEMA would be facing a reckoning.

The president echoed Republican criticisms of the disaster response last September. During Hurricane Helene, Trump has used his bully pulpit to . The federal government was also of a lack of response following Helene.

While touring hurricane damage in North Carolina on Jan. 24, Trump remarked:

“Well, I’ll also be signing an executive order to begin the process of fundamentally reforming and overhauling FEMA or maybe getting rid of FEMA. .”

Trump indicated he would .

The White House later clarified that an would direct a council of FEMA advisers to examine the agency and come up with proposals for reform.

Turning back the clock

If Trump gets rid of FEMA, he’ll be turning back the clock 50 years. It is illogical to call for a return to a time with a weak and disorganized system of disaster management.

In the 1970s, states were responsible for managing their own disasters. could become involved in relief efforts. The system was reactionary and responded on a need basis, with no clear pathways for federal disaster assistance to states.

State governors became increasingly concerned about the lack of a comprehensive national emergency policy. The dispersion of federal disaster management responsibilities among numerous federal agencies was viewed as impeding states’ own ability to manage disaster situations.

In advocating for better disaster management, a National Association of Governors’ report entitled made the case for a centralized emergency management system in the U.S.

President Jimmy Carter acted on the recommendations of the governors with to create FEMA in 1979. It was a cabinet-level agency until 2003, .

Duties enshrined in law

When a large-scale disaster stretches the ability of an American city to help its citizens, a formal process exists to request aid. As a local disaster expands in size and scope, requests for more assistance can go up to higher levels of administration, from the state governor and ultimately to the president. In this process, .

A can open up access to an array of federal programs .

The role of FEMA in supporting the declaration process are defined in provisions in the . The also provides for the statutory authority guiding FEMA programs like .

While Trump sits at the top of the executive branch, he can engage in a variety of political shenanigans to undermine FEMA, but he . As the agency’s duties are enshrined in law, only an act of the legislative branch can terminate FEMA.

A turbulent history

FEMA has existed for 46 years and faced turbulent times due to the poor decision-making by past Republican presidents. In 1980, Reagan who emphasized downsizing. Under George W. Bush’s presidency, among the flurry of reactions to Sept. 11, 2001, and relegated from a top-level cabinet level agency to a position buried deep in the Homeland Security organizational chart.

�հ��ܳ���’s involves creating diversions, sowing chaos and overloading people with lies. Taking a cue from his former White House strategist Steve Bannon on how to deal with the media, �հ��ܳ���’s statements about FEMA have worked to “.”

As with many functions of American government, emergency management is just the latest target of disorientation tactics intended to paralyze government operations.

By Associate Professor , Disaster and Emergency Management, 91��ɫ