Budget: Restore Funding & Staff for Emergency Preparedness at FEMA, NOAA, etc.

Today I take pen in hand to write and urge you to fight for every dollar in the budget bill negotiations. One of the most important has to be reversing the Trump administration's drastic cuts to the Federal Emergency Management Agency(FEMA) and other disaster preparedness agencies such as NOAA that plays a vital role in prediction and preparedness Experts warn that with diminished resources and staffing, FEMA and NOAA will be unable to accurately predict, prepare for, and respond to natural disasters, extreme weather events, pandemics, and other emergencies. These cuts are wanton, badly and shoddily done, and ‘small government’ in this area is simply dangerous policy, as the frequency and intensity of such disasters escalate due to climate change. We’re also heading into hurricane season, and although we don’t suffer from that particular danger, what happens to the Gulf states affects us in other ways. FEMA plays a vital role in coordinating emergency responses across federal, state, and local agencies. Its workforce has already been gutted, with over a third of full-time staff fired or taking buyouts, including experienced leaders essential for effective disaster management. Cutting funding to agencies like NOAA, which provides vital data that FEMA relies on for early warnings and evacuation orders, further compounds the problem. Lacking this critical information, emergency managers will be operating blindly, unable to properly prepare communities or allocate resources effectively. These moves defy all logic, as studies show that every dollar spent on disaster mitigation saves at least six dollars in response and recovery costs. These cuts not only endanger lives but also make little economic sense. I urge you to oppose the administration's reckless dismantling of our nation's emergency management capabilities. In this budget, robust funding and staffing for FEMA, NOAA, and related agencies are essential for protecting American communities and saving taxpayer dollars in the long run. Disaster preparedness should be a bipartisan priority, not a casualty of political agendas. Make reversing these cuts a priority and safeguard our nation's ability to respond to crises effectively. Thank you.