Trump proposes dismantling FEMA during visit to disaster location
In a surprising turn of events, President Donald Trump has announced that Michael Whatley, the chairman of the Republican National Committee, would be taking charge of disaster response efforts. However, it's important to note that Whatley's LinkedIn profile does not reflect any experience in disaster management.
Trump's announcement comes amidst his criticism of the response and recovery efforts following Hurricane Helene in the Southeast and Appalachia, as well as the southern California wildfires. The President has been vocal about his dissatisfaction with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), going as far as to suggest terminating the agency during a visit to North Carolina.
FEMA's performance has been under scrutiny recently, with reports of an internal probe into the incident of skipping over homes visibly supporting Trump in Florida during the response to Hurricane Helene. A supervisor was removed following this incident, and FEMA paused its door-to-door canvassing due to online posts threatening violence against federal responders.
Governor Kristi Noem, R-S.D., was critical of FEMA's response during her confirmation hearing on January 17, 2024. Despite this, Gallup reported in 2023 that 49% of Americans rated FEMA as being excellent or good at its job, one of the highest ratings in the survey.
In response to the criticism, Trump mentioned his intention to sign an executive order to begin the process of reforming and overhauling FEMA. However, it's uncertain how much authority he would have to unilaterally make changes to its organization, as FEMA is authorized in statute. Trump has been vocal about his belief that states should play a more significant role in disaster response, stating that FEMA is bureaucratic, slow, and costly.
There is no information available at this time about Whatley's responsibilities regarding disaster relief leadership if he is appointed for such a role. Meanwhile, more than 1,400 FEMA personnel were on the ground during the response to Hurricane Helene. An armed man was arrested in North Carolina for making threats against federal personnel during the hurricane.
Trump did not provide a timeline for the executive order, describing it as 'going to be a period of time.' This announcement comes on the heels of Trump mentioning the response to Hurricane Helene in his inaugural address on Monday.
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