FEMA Emergency Management Failures Put Lives At Risk

CONGRESS MUST INVESTIGATE AND RESTORE FEMA As your constituent, I am writing to urge you to investigate actions taken by the Department of Homeland Security that have weakened the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), speak out publicly against these actions, and enact legislation restoring FEMA to full operational capacity. FEMA’s ability to help Americans before, during, and after disasters is a core federal responsibility and an essential element of public safety. DHS SPENDING CONTROLS ARE DELAYING FEMA OPERATIONS FEMA’s disaster response capacity has been severely impaired by a requirement imposed by the Secretary of DHS that mandates individualized approval for FEMA expenditures exceeding $100,000, even during active disaster response. This requirement applies to routine operational decisions that previously could be executed quickly by FEMA professionals. Requiring case-by-case approval at this dollar level creates bureaucratic bottlenecks that delay contracts, staffing decisions, and deployment of emergency resources at precisely the moment when speed and flexibility are most critical. STAFFING REDUCTIONS HAVE UNDERCUT FEMA’S SURGE CAPACITY At the same time, FEMA has experienced reductions in staffing capacity, including delays and interruptions in renewing contracts for disaster response personnel and the loss of experienced surge staff. These staffing disruptions reduce FEMA’s ability to respond quickly, sustain operations over time, and manage multiple disasters occurring simultaneously. LOW MORALE AND INTERNAL UNCERTAINTY ARE UNDERMINING OPERATIONS In addition to operational constraints, FEMA has faced declining staff morale and growing internal uncertainty. Constant rule changes, delayed approvals, and unclear lines of authority have left career staff uncertain about when they are permitted to act decisively during emergencies. This environment discourages initiative, slows judgment at critical moments, and increases the risk that experienced personnel will leave the agency. Over time, this erosion of morale and institutional confidence further weakens FEMA’s readiness and effectiveness. THE CONSEQUENCES ARE REAL AND DOCUMENTED According to Death by a Thousand Cuts: FEMA Under the Second Trump Administration, published by the Natural Resources Defense Council in January 2026, DHS approval bottlenecks, staffing disruptions, and internal uncertainty have delayed disaster response, slowed assistance payments, and weakened preparedness and mitigation programs. Source: https://www.nrdc.org/bio/joel-scata/death-thousand-cuts-fema-under-second-trump-administration Communities facing floods, hurricanes, wildfires, and extreme weather have experienced slower federal response, unanswered hotlines, delayed recovery assistance, and reduced federal coordination as a result of these constraints. CONGRESS MUST ACT TO REPAIR FEMA (1) Investigate the DHS requirement for individualized approval of FEMA expenditures over $100,000 and determine how it has affected disaster response timelines and operational decision-making. (2) Examine staffing reductions, morale problems, and internal uncertainty at FEMA, including the loss of surge capacity and delays in renewing disaster-response contracts, and require corrective action. (3) Enact legislation restoring FEMA’s independent spending authority during disasters, rebuilding and stabilizing its workforce, strengthening morale and retention, and preventing future DHS interference in time-sensitive emergency operations. FEMA serves all Americans, regardless of geography, income, or political affiliation. When disasters strike, families, businesses, hospitals, schools, and entire communities depend on FEMA’s speed, expertise, and coordination to save lives, restore basic services, and support recovery. A weakened FEMA places every American at greater risk, not just those in the path of the next storm or wildfire. Thank you.