1. United States
2. Pa.
3. Letter

The Trump administration's efforts to dismantle and defund FEMA pose a grave threat to the nation's ability to respond to and recover from natural disasters. As we've witnessed with the catastrophic flooding in Texas, robust federal support through FEMA is crucial for saving lives and aiding communities in the aftermath of such emergencies. The administration's decision to cut funding, deplete staffing levels by around one-third, and implement policies that slow emergency response times is deeply concerning. With climate change increasing the frequency and intensity of disasters, now is not the time to weaken FEMA's capabilities. Communities across the country rely on this vital agency, and many states simply lack the resources to effectively manage major disaster recovery efforts on their own. I urge you to take immediate action to restore FEMA's funding and staffing levels, and prevent the elimination of this essential, life-saving agency. The American people deserve a fully functioning emergency management system that can rapidly deploy aid when disaster strikes.