The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is no longer a target for elimination by the Trump administration, according to its former leader, David Richardson. In a new book, Richardson recounts his attempts to significantly reduce the agency's size, stating, "I quickly realized that I would not be the one to transform FEMA or shut it down."

Background

President Donald Trump has openly criticized FEMA, particularly during the first week of his second term, claiming, "I think, frankly, FEMA is not good," and suggesting that the agency should be eliminated. This sentiment was echoed by then-Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem, who oversaw FEMA's budget. While other federal agencies faced cuts or elimination, Richardson asserts that FEMA is here to stay.

Current Status of FEMA

Richardson, who served as acting administrator for much of 2025, noted that FEMA employees no longer fear mass layoffs or agency abolition. He commented, "I think they're probably in a go-along-to-get-along kind of mode," indicating a shift in the agency's internal dynamics. However, the attempts to dismantle FEMA have exacerbated existing issues, such as understaffing and delays in disaster recovery funding.

Expert Opinions

Andrew Rumbach, a disaster policy expert at the Urban Institute, criticized the previous attempts to downsize FEMA, stating, "Looking back, I think what we saw was an ill-advised attempt to reduce the size of FEMA without fully understanding all the different functions that the agency has." A recent report from the Government Accountability Office raised concerns about FEMA's staffing levels, particularly in disaster recovery.