The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and its role in disaster response is under a microscope. As we near the start of another hurricane season, with forecasts predicting above-normal activity, questions grow about FEMA’s preparedness. Recent staff cutbacks and the exodus of several high-ranking officials have created some alarm. Today, many are asking about the agency’s capability to respond to disasters effectively, particularly with the cutbacks in FEMA’s hurricane preparedness. For new FEMA chief David Richardson, he takes on that role immediately with the unexpected firing of Cameron Hamilton. Now, he must address deepening challenges as he guides the agency through this transformational time.
FEMA is justifiably under great stress right now. Since January 2017 that’s meant cutting approximately 2,000 full-time equivalent staff—one-third of its total workforce—who’ve either been fired or decided to leave the beleaguered agency since. This massive depletion of personnel is concerning when considering the agency’s ability to safeguard disaster response operations in the future.
The official start of the U.S. hurricane season was Sunday and it lasts through November. As these forecasts predict increased storm frequency and intensity, FEMA’s preparedness has been called into question. The agency has notably reduced its hurricane training and workshops for state and local emergency managers, further contributing to concerns over preparedness.
Now, the David Richardson era of FEMA leadership begins in earnest. Prior to joining DOT, he was the assistant secretary at the Department of Homeland Security’s office for countering weapons of mass destruction. That’s true—except that he brings zero disaster response experience to the role. Richardson has disappointed many by choosing not to issue a new disaster plan. He seems unwilling to rock the boat on changes that would run into the path of the FEMA review council established under former President Donald Trump.
While Richardson’s approach may be surprising to some, it is part of a larger movement within FEMA under the current administration. According to a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security,
“FEMA is shifting from bloated, DC-centric dead weight to a lean, deployable disaster force that empowers state actors to provide relief for their citizens.”
This rhetoric neatly summarizes the agency’s approach. It focuses on saving time and increasing focus on giving power back to local agencies.
As Richardson gets his bearings in this new job, he’s focusing on a new boss— South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, the country’s first Homeland Security Secretary. Noem has trumpeted the need for a leaner, smarter FEMA. She truly wants the agency to be able to respond better to disasters but less federal oversight. This position furthers Trump’s agenda to fundamentally reshape FEMA. He suggested cutting or even scrapping whole divisions of the agency.
The combination of leadership changes, staffing reductions, and altered training programs poses significant hurdles for FEMA as it confronts the impending storm season. Observers have expressed concern that these factors may undermine the agency’s ability to coordinate relief efforts during large-scale disasters in a timely manner.