President Donald Trump has questioned the future of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, but potential cuts to FEMA may hit residents of three red states the hardest.
“FEMA is going to be a whole big discussion very shortly because I’d rather see the states take care of their own problems,” Trump said during an interview with Fox News‘ Sean Hannity Wednesday evening.
Newsweek reached out via email to the White House for comment.
Why It Matters
FEMA delivers crucial aid to Americans affected by natural disasters, including hurricanes, wildfires, flooding and earthquakes. Trump’s comments come as Los Angeles continues to grapple with several wildfires that have burned tens of thousands of acres, killed at least 28 people and destroyed thousands of homes and buildings.
The agency has come under scrutiny from some Republicans in recent months over its response to the devastation in parts of North Carolina from Hurricane Helene last year. Recovery efforts are still underway. The agency has established a fact-checking page to combat the misinformation about its response that spread online.
What To Know
Trump criticized FEMA during his Fox News interview, saying that “all it does is complicate everything” and that the California wildfires, estimated to have caused up to $250 billion in damage, have “changed everything.”
“I will say that Los Angeles has changed everything because a lot of money is going to be necessary for Los Angeles and a lot of people on the other side want that to happen,” Trump said.
The remains of Steinhatchee, Florida, are seen on September 27, 2024, after Hurricane Helene struck Florida’s Big Bend region. The remains of Steinhatchee, Florida, are seen on September 27, 2024, after Hurricane Helene struck Florida’s Big Bend region. Sean Rayford/Getty Images
He didn’t say whether he would propose an alternative to FEMA or support other ways for the federal government to deliver aid to states hit by a natural disaster.
But California isn’t the state that has received the most funding from FEMA in recent years. Rather, three Republican-leaning states in the South, frequently struck by hurricanes, are the top recipients of FEMA funds, according to data from the Carnegie Disaster Dollar Database.
Carnegie tracks two types of FEMA funding— the Individuals and Households Program (IHP), which provides direct financial aid to disaster victims, and Public Assistance (PA), which funds community rebuilding relief.
Florida, Louisiana and Texas are the three states that have benefited most from IHP from 2015 to August 2024, according to the data. Florida residents have received $2.5 billion, Louisiana residents have gotten $2.4 billion, and Texas residents have received $2.3 billion.
Each of those states backed Trump by more than 10 points in this past November’s presidential race.
U.S. territories, which do not vote in presidential elections, as well as some Democratic-leaning states have received more PA funding, though the three states still ranked high on the list of recipients.
Puerto Rico, devastated by Hurricane Maria in 2017, received more PA funds than any state, at $21 million. Florida and Louisiana followed, at $7.7 billion and $6.2 billion, respectively.
California was the next top beneficiary, at $3.7 billion, followed by the Virgin Islands at $2.9 billion and Texas at $2.8 billion.
Some conservatives have previously suggested cuts to FEMA.
Project 2025, the Heritage Foundation’s blueprint for a second Trump term (which he has distanced himself from), called for “reforming FEMA emergency spending to shift the majority of preparedness and response costs to states and localities instead of the federal government.” Project 2025 also called for “eliminating most of DHS’s grant programs.”
But it’s unclear whether enough Republicans, particularly those from Gulf states most affected by hurricanes, would favor widespread cuts to the agency, even if many Republicans support some reform efforts.
Trump hasn’t announced his pick to lead FEMA. Cameron Hamilton, a former Navy SEAL, will temporarily lead the agency.
What People Are Saying
Representative Jared Huffman, a California Democrat, said on X (formerly Twitter): “Saying we should get rid of FEMA and force people to fend for themselves is an appalling take from President Trump. The federal government is here to help the people of America – not leave them in the lurch when disaster strikes.”
Former GOP Representative Adam Kinzinger of Illinois said on X: “These are the same people who said FEMA wasn’t doing enough. It’s never about policy, it’s just about pretending every day is Opposite Day and manipulating the base to do whatever your whim is that day.”
Conservative media personality Nick Sortor said on X: “President Trump just BLASTED FEMA. ‘FEMA is getting in the way of everything, and the Democrats actually used FEMA NOT to help North Carolina. On Friday, I’m stopping in North Carolina… because those people were treated very badly. We’re going to get that thing straightened out.’ THANK YOU PRESIDENT TRUMP!”
Steve Benen, a producer of The Rachel Maddow Show, said in an MSNBC blog post: “It’s possible, of course, that this won’t be the White House’s new position. After all, Trump simply says stuff, and it’s anybody’s guess as to whether he intends to follow through on his rhetoric.”
What Happens Next
While Trump hinted at changes to FEMA, he hasn’t made any plans official. He is expected to continue rolling out his conservative agenda on a range of issues through executive orders over the coming weeks and months.
He is expected to visit North Carolina and California on Friday to assess damage caused by Helene and the Los Angeles County wildfires. Meanwhile, Congress continues to consider whether to pass supplemental aid for Los Angeles, with discussions of potential conditions for the aid dividing Republicans.
