FEMA’s Future: A Katrina Warning
By Darius Spearman (africanelements)
Support African Elements at patreon.com/africanelements and hear recent news in a single playlist. Additionally, you can gain early access to ad-free video content.
Twenty years after Hurricane Katrina exposed severe weaknesses in America’s disaster response, a new storm brews within the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Current and former FEMA employees have issued a stark public warning, dubbed the “FEMA Katrina Declaration.” They claim that the Trump administration’s policies are actively weakening the agency’s ability to respond to disasters. This could lead to another catastrophe like Hurricane Katrina (AP News).
More than 180 current and former employees signed this powerful letter. They stated that their commitment to the country and their oaths of office compelled them to speak out. Their goal is to warn Congress and the American people about the damaging effects of the current administration’s decisions (Washington Post). The letter specifically warns that severe cuts to FEMA risk a disaster similar to what happened after Hurricane Katrina (Washington Post). This declaration was sent directly to Congress. It highlights concerns about the Trump administration’s policies (Dakota News Now).
The Katrina Declaration
The “Katrina Declaration” is an open letter signed by current and former FEMA employees. It warns Congress that the Trump administration’s overhaul of the agency could lead to catastrophic failures in disaster response (CNN). The letter accuses President Donald Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem of undermining FEMA’s capabilities. It also states they are ignoring its congressionally mandated authority and appointing unqualified leadership (CNN).
The letter, titled “Katrina Declaration,” was signed by 191 current and former FEMA employees. Some 35 attached their names, while the rest remained anonymous due to fear of retaliation (CBS News). The letter specifically calls for FEMA to be protected from political interference. It also asks for its workforce to be shielded from politically motivated firings (CNN). The declaration argues that the Trump administration has undone years of progress made at the disaster relief agency since Hurricane Katrina (CBS News).
Noem’s Approval Threshold
A major concern in the “FEMA Katrina Declaration” is the policy requiring Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to personally approve all FEMA contracts, grants, and mission assignments over $100,000. This policy is seen by staffers as weakening FEMA’s capacity. It could also slow down disaster response (Dakota News Now).
FEMA officials reportedly could not pre-position Urban Search and Rescue crews in Texas because of this low threshold for personal sign-off (The Independent). The approval threshold dramatically decreased from $25 million in March to $20 million in May. Then, it dropped to $100,000 in June (The Independent). A former official anonymously stated that “FEMA doesn’t sneeze without spending that amount of money.” This indicates the $100,000 threshold is exceptionally low for the agency’s operations (The Independent). Sources suggest that this new, much lower threshold could bring disaster response to a crawl if Noem’s office cannot keep up with approvals (CNN). A former senior FEMA official commented that the idea of a Cabinet secretary approving anything over $100,000 is “designed on purpose to not pay people” (CNN).
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s role, as described in the context of the “Katrina Declaration,” involves overseeing FEMA. The declaration accuses her department, which oversees FEMA, of undermining the agency’s capabilities and ignoring its congressionally mandated authority (CNN). President Donald Trump created a review council led by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to suggest reforms to FEMA (Scientific American).
FEMA Contract Approval Threshold Changes
FEMA Contract Approval Threshold Changes (2025)
Threats to FEMA's Future
The Trump administration has openly expressed interest in either eliminating FEMA entirely or shifting more responsibility for disaster response to individual states (Dakota News Now). President Trump and Secretary Noem have reportedly vowed to phase out FEMA after the 2025 hurricane season. They plan to shift the burden of disaster relief to the states (CNN).
Lincoln County Emergency Management Director Harold Timmerman stated that a very detailed plan would be needed if this is the intended direction (Dakota News Now). President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to eliminate FEMA (Federal News Network). Firings within FEMA were projected to cut approximately $50 million in personnel costs (Scientific American).
New Leadership, Less Experience
Secretary Noem has installed new officials into FEMA's front office. Many of these individuals reportedly lack experience in disaster management (CNN). Noem has installed at least half a dozen homeland security officials, many with little experience in disaster management, into FEMA's front office. They are now steering the agency’s day-to-day operations (CNN).
The “Katrina Declaration” claims that the Trump administration has appointed “unqualified leadership” to FEMA (CNN). For example, FEMA's acting chief, Cameron Hamilton, was fired in May and replaced by another acting head, David Richardson. Neither had prior emergency management experience (Federal News Network).
FEMA Staffing Changes
Key Staffing Changes at FEMA
The Impact of Suspensions
The suspension of FEMA employees who signed the “Katrina Declaration” has an immediate impact on their ability to perform duties. It also likely affects morale within the agency (CBS News). While the full extent of the impact on disaster response capabilities is not explicitly detailed, the suspensions remove experienced personnel from their roles (CBS News).
More than 20 FEMA employees were suspended and placed on administrative leave after signing the open letter (CBS News). Suspended staffers were told not to visit FEMA facilities, access the department's telecommunication systems, or carry out any official duties. They were only allowed to respond to inquiries from the Department of Homeland Security (CBS News). One suspended FEMA worker expressed disappointment but also pride in those who stood up, “regardless of what it might mean for our jobs” (CNN). Some employees who signed the “Katrina Declaration” withheld their names due to fear of retaliation (CBS News). Several FEMA employees were placed on administrative leave immediately after signing the letter, indicating potential repercussions for speaking out (CNN).
Understanding Urban Search and Rescue
Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) crews are highly specialized teams. They are crucial for disaster response, especially in situations involving collapsed structures or widespread damage. Their primary role is to locate, extricate, and provide initial medical stabilization to victims trapped in confined spaces. These teams are made up of firefighters, engineers, paramedics, and search dog handlers. They use advanced techniques and equipment to navigate complex and dangerous environments.
The importance of USAR in disaster response cannot be overstated. They are often the first responders capable of reaching victims in the most challenging scenarios. Their rapid deployment and specialized skills can significantly increase survival rates in the immediate aftermath of events like earthquakes, hurricanes, or terrorist attacks. The inability to pre-position these crews, as reportedly happened in Texas due to approval delays (The Independent), directly impacts the speed and effectiveness of life-saving operations. This highlights how critical their timely deployment is to protecting communities.
What is Urban Search and Rescue (USAR)?
What is Urban Search and Rescue (USAR)?
Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) teams are highly specialized units. They locate, extricate, and provide initial medical care to victims trapped in collapsed structures or hazardous environments after disasters. These teams are crucial for saving lives in complex situations.
The Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 (PKEMRA)
The Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 (PKEMRA) was a direct response to the widely criticized federal response to Hurricane Katrina. This landmark legislation aimed to overhaul FEMA and strengthen the nation's disaster preparedness and response capabilities. PKEMRA significantly reorganized FEMA, establishing it as an independent agency within the Department of Homeland Security. This move was intended to give FEMA more autonomy and direct access to the President, ensuring that disaster response would not be bogged down by bureaucratic hurdles within a larger department.
Key reforms introduced by PKEMRA included setting up 12 regional offices across the country, each with its own director, to improve localized response and coordination. The act also mandated several organizational changes designed to prevent the failures seen during Katrina, such as improving communication systems, enhancing training for emergency responders, and clarifying roles and responsibilities across federal, state, and local levels. The “Katrina Declaration” explicitly states that the current administration's actions are undoing the progress made by PKEMRA, creating conditions that the act was specifically designed to prevent (CBS News).
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Darius Spearman has been a professor of Black Studies at San Diego City College since 2007. He is the author of several books, including Between The Color Lines: A History of African Americans on the California Frontier Through 1890. You can visit Darius online at africanelements.org.
