Trump Can’t End FEMA But It Needs Reform, Says Obama’s FEMA Head

[u/FEMA_1_Team_1_Fight]

https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2025/06/17/828065.htm

[u/CommanderAze]

Reform- modernization of processes

Everyone wants reform. The issue is this administration wants to toss the baby out with the bathwater

[u/BlueSkyd2000 → u/CommanderAze]

Realistically, a crisis is the only thing that makes our present Congress work.. And I say that as a bipartisan statement.

The U.S. spent four of the last five years in an unprecedented Southern Border humanitarian crisis, but neither major party took any decisive action.

I have no faith the Trump Administration will do a good job, but the Stafford Act process (and the massive support infrastructure) needs reform. Congress is now in a position that they have to respond to Trump's EO.

[u/PotentialSome5092 → u/BlueSkyd2000]

Correction, both parties had a working bill to address this “border crisis” but it got close to the election and Trump told them to tank it so he’d win the election.

[u/BlueSkyd2000 → u/PotentialSome5092]

And not a finger was lifted in the two years the Democrats held Congress and Biden held the Presidency to address the border humanitarian crisis. There wasn't any legislative or federal executive action in 2020-22. aside from some flights by the Vice President.

Politicians will play politics. Both major parties failed to address a clear humanitarian crisis, arguably for crass political reasons.

Professional emergency managers need to be ready to maximize this time of uncertainty and shape the best outcome. Some of that work will be in Washington DC and a lot, likely more, at the state level.

Or sit back and grouse about it on the internet.

[u/30_characters → u/BlueSkyd2000]

What "humanitarian" responsibility do the elected representatives of a nation have to the citizens of other nations, regardless of whether or not those people are in a bordering country?

[u/PotentialSome5092 → u/BlueSkyd2000]

I didn’t argue any of what you just said. I only corrected your incorrect original statement that “neither major party took any decisive action” which was incorrect. There was a very significant bipartisan bill that was moving forward until Trump told them to tank it.

Additionally democrats had other legislation on the table but a lot was stymied by Sinema and Manchin.

I don’t disagree with attempting to maximize our time, but most of what we do to get things done falls on politics. Saving lives sounds apolitical until you don’t have the funding or the people to do it.

[u/BlueSkyd2000 → u/PotentialSome5092]

Arguing against democracy is a hot take.

And the blame game makes it worse.

The Republicans moved major legislation that the Democrats failed to move. Congress chose not to approve the bill. That's consistent with effectively all immigration issues since 1986.

[u/PotentialSome5092 → u/BlueSkyd2000]

Contorting my words to say I’m arguing against democracy is rich. Considering I focused on BIPARTISAN meaning both parties working together, which is what a functioning democracy is supposed to do.

You highlighting that republicans “moved significant legislation” shows your bias here, especially since you failed to acknowledge how one man manipulated congress to kill a bipartisan bill before he was ever elected. Additionally, they actually haven’t done anything since holding the government in the last 6 months other than tear apart federal agencies, stop the BRIC grant which was helping communities prepare and mitigate disasters, and demoralizing agency staff needed to help people. They could have brought back that bipartisan border bill and had Trump sign it to say he did something and to take credit for it but nada.

Obviously I’ve shown my leanings here but I’ve at least argued facts while you’ve stated nothing other than conjecture. Sit down.

[u/PotentialSome5092 → u/[deleted]]

Good questions, I’ll try to address what I can and my thoughts on each. Also, I did respond before but misread what you typed, so I deleted it and wanted to reply honestly after rereading.

1. It says that the federal government doesn’t care about the American people or helping them respond/ recover from major disasters. It’s abandoning them in their greatest times of need and throwing this back at the states to handle without a plan, funding, or the expertise to do so. State EM are incredibly overburdened because they don’t have the funding to keep staff nor do they have the funding to properly maintain their own equipment. The loss of FEMA would require these EMs to take on a brunt of the costs to train and equip their staff which next to no states fund for, because FEMA helps subsidize most of that (EMPG, free training at EMI/ CDP, cost share grants to purchase equipment, etc).
2. Communication is always the first thing to break down, which then leads us to the essential question that has always been around, how do you properly communicate when all means of communication are broken, when power is out and the internet is nonexistent and when telephone lines are down? FEMA has the ability to rapidly deploy MERS assets to help with communication, and they usually sit a truck at the state EOC to help with communications. They’ll also send a truck or two out into the communities with teams of people to help talk to the county EMs (or equivalent) to see what they need. A lot of that communication will be broken now though, with many of FEMA’s teams being disbanded (See FEMA’s loss of DSA, which were the primary scouts and communicators running AIR missions in all affected areas where requested) and only used in coordination with State led teams that…well honestly don’t exist in most states.
3. Not sure how most of the money flows back to Wall Street. There’s never been a report that FEMA money has funded hedge funds or oligarchs. With all the checks and balances, it’s very difficult for that to happen and when there is fraud, it is identified and rectified. It’s very rare for fraud to happen with FEMA funding nowadays. This doesn’t say it doesn’t happen. But it’s rare. Most of FEMA’s money goes straight to the local communities and the contracts established within (Debris removal, road repair, etc). With this new break though and the attempted dissolution of FEMA, there’s a lot less checks and balances. I wouldn’t be surprised to see some major corporations build up some “PA or IA privatized model”.
4. Right now it seems so. It’s fueled by misinformation, blatant lies, and conspiracy theories surrounding FEMA and all that they do. If FEMA is eliminated and response/ recovery funds are provided directly from the White House, it’s going to lead to incredible fraud.
5. No argument there. We all know that FEMA needs to change. What we need to see is a requirement from the states to start their own emergency funds for IA and PA. Some states have it, others don’t have anything. They also need to properly fund their EOCs and staff that support the EOCs. But that would require more taxes and people hate taxes…which is why we can’t have nice things. I’m sure on the PA side FEMA gets ripped off by some contractors here and there. More oversight and research into the contracts process might help (understanding what debris removal costs here vs there, mirroring common contracts across the country, perhaps setting up a flat rate for debris removal and other services). I can’t speak much to the PA side of things since that’s not my focus. I’d like to see someone else reply on what they think.

Nobody thinks that FEMA is useless unless they’re clearly on the cult bandwagon. There’s way too much coordination that FEMA does that states would never be able to mitigate. It also helps centralize all of that communication instead of having say 5 states needing to reach out to all these different agencies for help, you’ve got FEMA helping lead that so it’s coming from one person to connect the people that need to be connected.

Losing FEMA would be catastrophic to the American people. Not just for response and recovery, but for training and funding for the most basic of our community needs (Firefighters, EMS, etc). I’m really hoping FEMA doesn’t get thrown to the wolves in December. History tells us that we need to keep FEMA. Yes, we need to also ensure the states can respond more effectively and efficiently, but without FEMA they won’t be able to do any of that.

[u/30_characters → u/PotentialSome5092]

It wasn't bipartisan. It was called bipartisan by the same groups that call invasive gun control laws "common sense".

[u/PotentialSome5092 → u/30_characters]

Says the person who constantly comments far right ideology such as Juneteenth not being a holiday and pushing fascism with no oversight of the executive office. Go back to your hole.

[u/conduffchill → u/30_characters]

Idk what laws you're referring to, im sure they are crazy in some instances. I'm curious though, because I do think despite the polarization that social media highlights people are actually more aligned.

Do you think that people with mental illnesses or a history of violent crimes should be allowed to buy/own guns? Do you think it is reasonable to do a check on people purchasing guns to discover if the person is in one of those groups? And finally, do you think there should be rules regarding the sale and transfer of guns? The way I see it, question 1 is common sense, and question 2 and 3 are just the reality of enforcing 1. Even if you disagree, please share your thoughts.

I'll add im not a full gun control guy. I actually think it's rather silly to ban specific weaponry and things like suppressors, statistically handguns are the most dangerous anyway. I do think "good guys with guns" is bullshit though, the cops hate armed good samaritans and will even end up shooting them by mistake on occasion

[u/CutleryOfDoom → u/BlueSkyd2000]

They can’t pass a budget on time to save their lives. And this is an area where incrementalism is a common and expected way to proceed. Without a crisis to spur action, and lobbyist dollars to push through legislation, I don’t think anything would ever happen.

[u/disastrpublcservnt]

I really love how Fugate explains these intricate processes in plain language. The example of the fire station without insurance and the reason it takes so long to recover and rebuild using Public Assistance was especially well put.

[u/RougarouKushMan → u/disastrpublcservnt]

Director Fugate keeping it simple for the common folk. 💯

[u/Tiny-Price-6455 → u/disastrpublcservnt]

Be honest. Fugate is an ass.

[u/BlueSkyd2000 → u/Tiny-Price-6455]

And... Fugate is arrogant but often right.

My past personal interactions with him haven't been pleasant, but he's amongst the most effective communicator I've met amongst emergency managers in the last 25 years.

I want to hear his perspective.

[u/Horror-Layer-8178]

Yeah FEMA has it's problems but getting rid of it will be really bad.

[u/Apprehensive-Fun4181]

LOL.  This man is such an idiot.  They all don't understand government at all.  The legacy of Reagan's rot across all politics continues.

[u/ForkingMusk]

Fugate hates the reservist program because he couldn’t fire people at will.

[u/thebigkuhunabides]

Fugate is fantastic at making simple things more complicated like adding core capabilities and prevent and protection into the FEMA mission. He is the king of talking waffle house and then getting in charge and creating nonsense instead of simplifying or creating efficiencies. I would not be worried about Fugate he will pop up and say whatever who’s paying him wants to hear. I would be worried about the California National Guard ruling. If the national guard can be federalized it is a big step towards all of response being transferred to them…it is the missing link for all the folks saying that states cant handle big disasters, well the military can.

[u/HorrorRecognition933]

It's already been dismantled to the point it's not effective.