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President Donald Trump has announced he is considering overhauling or possibly eliminating the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Some shit you should know before you read: FEMA was established in 1979 to coordinate the federal government’s response to disasters that overwhelm states, providing financial assistance, disaster relief, and recovery resources to affected communities. Over the years, FEMA has faced growing criticism for falling short in helping those impacted by disasters, with many survivors reporting difficulty accessing assistance, delays in processing claims, and insufficient financial aid. For instance, California wildfire victims received initial one-time FEMA payments of $770, widely criticized as inadequate in a state with one of the highest living costs. In addition, many California residents applying for FEMA aid have reported denials similar to those impacted by Hurricane Helene in North Carolina. Defenders of FEMA argue that Congress has failed to appropriate sufficient funding to meet the increasing demands of disaster response and recovery.

Trump North Carolina

What’s going on now: Today, President Trump visited North Carolina to survey the damage caused by Hurricane Helene and meet with residents still recovering from the storm. During the visit, Trump criticized FEMA’s disaster response, calling the agency “very bureaucratic” and “a big disappointment.” He argued that states, rather than the federal government, should take the lead in managing disasters, saying, “I think, frankly, FEMA’s not good. I think when you have a problem like this… you want to use your state to fix it and not waste time calling FEMA, and then FEMA gets here and they don’t know the area.” He further criticized FEMA for slowing recovery efforts by imposing burdensome regulations, adding, “They want to give you rules that you’ve never heard about, they want to give you people that aren’t as good as the people you already have.”

Trump eventually proposed either overhauling or eliminating FEMA altogether, suggesting that federal disaster assistance should flow directly to the states instead of being managed by the agency. Trump also vowed to help impacted communities, where many are still living in temporary housing. He said, “We’re going to get you the resources you need and the support you deserve.”

This all comes as President Trump is set to travel to California and meet face-to-face with Governor Gavin Newsom, who has faced criticism from Trump over the state’s handling of wildfire mitigation and water policies. Trump has suggested tying federal disaster aid to policy changes, including reforms to California’s water management systems, which he claimed contributed to the severity of the wildfires. Additionally, Trump proposed linking disaster assistance to the implementation of voter ID laws, a controversial issue in the Democratic-led state.

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