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President Donald Trump Put the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on Sunday after signing an executive order aimed at “dramatically” improving the agency’s effectiveness, priorities and competence.
Trump’s executive order establishes the FEMA Review Council, which will be composed of no more than 20 members and co-chaired by the Secretaries of Homeland Security and Defense.
The council is being formed after FEMA’s response to Hurricane Helene and other recent disasters showed the need to improve “effectiveness, priorities and competence, including evaluating whether FEMA’s bureaucracy in disaster response” hinders its ability to respond successfully.
“Despite committing nearly $30 billion in disaster relief in each of the past three years, FEMA has managed to leave vulnerable Americans without the resources or support they need when they need it most,” the executive order says. “There are serious concerns about political bias at FEMA. In fact, at least one former FEMA responder has stated that he was ordered by FEMA administrators to avoid homes of people who support Donald J. Trump’s campaign for president.”
“FEMA is no good:” Trump announces review of agency during visit to North Carolina
A drone view shows a Walgreens in Asheville, North Carolina, damaged by Hurricane Helene on September 29, 2024. (Reuters/Marco Bello)
Trump also said that FEMA has lost focus on the mission, diverting limited resources and personnel to support missions outside its scope and authority. The president particularly noted that FEMA has spent more than $1 billion sheltering illegal immigrants.
“Americans deserve immediate, effective, and impartial response and recovery from disasters,” the order continued. “Therefore, FEMA requires a full-scale review, by individuals highly experienced in effective disaster response and recovery, who will recommend to the President improvements or structural changes to advance the national interest and enable national resilience.”
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President Donald Trump has shared plans to overhaul FEMA after stating that he believes the agency is “no good.” (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Trump announced Friday that he plans to review FEMA as North Carolina is still recovering from Hurricane Helene more than 120 days after the Storm devastated the state.
“I will also sign an executive order to begin the process of fundamentally reforming and overhauling FEMA, or perhaps getting rid of FEMA,” Trump told reporters in North Carolina on Friday morning. “I think, frankly, FEMA is not good.”
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A pickup truck floats in flood waters near the village of Biltmore after Hurricane Helene on September 28, 2024 in Asheville, North Carolina. (Sean Rayford/Getty Images)
Trump promised that his administration would intervene and Help North Carolina To fix the damage quickly, promising to “do a good job” for the state.
The president also said he would like to see states take more responsibility when disaster strikes, arguing that those familiar with the state are better equipped to provide disaster response and relief.
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So far, the US Army Corps of Engineers says only half of Hurricane Helene debris recovery is complete. Additionally, thousands of families in North Carolina remain in hotels for which FEMA is footing the bill through its Transitional Housing Assistance program.
Fox News Digital’s Diana Stancy contributed to this report.
