FEMA Delays Are Endangering Lives - Congress Must Act

FEMA’s Delays Are Unacceptable and Dangerous FEMA’s slow and politically influenced response to recent disasters has left Americans at greater risk during moments of crisis. I urge you to speak out, pass legislation to reform FEMA, and hold oversight hearings to ensure FEMA decisions are based on urgency and need - not political considerations. Recent Failures Across Multiple States According to a July 23, 2025, Washington Post op-ed, FEMA took days to approve Texas’s request for emergency aid following deadly flooding. Even more troubling, requests from at least ten other states and two Native American tribes are still unresolved. In Mississippi, after a March tornado, aid remained stalled for two months. In Maryland, FEMA denied flood recovery assistance to Allegany County, despite clear damage and a formal request. Internal Dysfunction and Bureaucratic Barriers FEMA’s Urban Search and Rescue chief, Ken Pagurek, resigned after a 72-hour delay in deploying rescue teams in Texas due to a new rule requiring personal approval of contracts over $100,000. FEMA also allowed its call center contracts to lapse, leaving thousands of emergency calls unanswered at a critical time. A Pattern of Politicized Decision-Making These are not isolated events. When disaster relief becomes entangled in red tape and partisan oversight, lives are put at risk. From Hurricane Katrina to the present day, history shows that FEMA’s effectiveness declines when political filters override emergency needs. What Congress Must Do Now I urge you to act by: • Speaking out publicly about FEMA’s failures and calling for impartial, needs-based aid • Sponsoring legislation that enforces clear FEMA response deadlines and bars partisan delays • Holding oversight hearings to investigate delays and prevent future misuse of FEMA procedures A Time for Leadership Every American deserves timely, effective disaster relief - regardless of their state’s political alignment. FEMA must serve the public with fairness, speed, and transparency. Congress has the responsibility to ensure it does.