FEMA Employees Warn of Eroding Safeguards Against Future Disasters

A group of FEMA employees wrote to the FEMA Review Council and members of Congress warning that “the cascading effects of decisions made by the current administration” are hindering the agency’s ability to effectively respond to disasters and preventing it from carrying out its mission. 

The letter, titled the Katrina Declaration, states that the Trump administration’s actions represent “a clear departure” from the safeguards Congress established in the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 (PKEMRA), which was designed to prevent a repeat of the federal failures witnessed after Hurricane Katrina. (GAO overview of PKEMRA).

The declaration distills these concerns into six statements of opposition, each pointing to a critical area where FEMA’s ability to protect communities is being eroded:

1. The reduction in capability of FEMA to perform its missions.
2. The ongoing failure to appoint a qualified FEMA administrator, as required by law.
3. The elimination of life- and cost-saving risk reduction programs.
4. Interference with preparedness programs that build capacity for state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) partners.
5. Censorship of climate science, environmental protection, and efforts to ensure all communities have access to information, resources, and support.
6. The reduction of FEMA’s disaster workforce.

The 181 signatories raise concern about the termination of hazard mitigation efforts, calling it “fiscally irresponsible” and a direct threat to public safety. The Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program was shut down in April, cancelling awards already appropriated by Congress, and the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funding has largely not been released for recent disaster declarations. FEMA staff note that mitigation is one of the most effective tools to reduce future destruction—saving an average of $6 for every $1 invested. Ending these programs not only undermines FEMA’s legal authority under the Stafford Act but also shifts greater financial and human costs onto communities already at risk.

The letter also emphasizes the erosion of preparedness and training programs that strengthen SLTT capacity, noting that “cuts to these programs prioritize the appearance of cost reduction and empowerment of SLTT partners but will result in an opposite outcome.” Federal initiatives such as the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program, the National Fire Academy, and the Youth Preparedness Council were cut or cancelled, leaving SLTT partners without critical technical assistance, training opportunities, or volunteer engagement. The FEMA employees argue that these changes weaken trust and coordination with communities and reverse hard-won progress since Hurricane Katrina, when gaps in local capacity were shown to be deadly. 

In addition to its six points of opposition, the Katrina Declaration petitions Congress to:

1. Establish FEMA as a cabinet-level independent agency in the executive branch.
2. Defend the agency from further interference from DHS, including illegal impoundments of appropriated funding, and ensure FEMA retains its full authority, responsibilities, and capabilities.
3. Protect FEMA employees from politically motivated firings and ensure continued protection under merit-based personnel systems.
4. Demand transparency from OMB, DOJ, and FEMA leadership regarding internal employment policies and future agency reductions. 

Visit the Stand Up for Science website to read the letter in its entirety. While there, you can also add your name to a statement of solidarity and support.