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Snapshot 6:Wed, Jan 28, 2026 8:54:15 PM GMT last edited by KateHennig

Report: FEMA Faces 50% Staff Cuts

Report: FEMA Faces 50% Staff Cuts Amid Disaster Aid Overhaul

Does cutting funding threaten essential disaster response that states can't replace or should FEMA be streamlined with needs-based aid?
    Report: FEMA Faces 50% Staff Cuts
    Above: The FEMA National Response Coordination Center in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 24. Image credit: Valerie Plesch/Bloomberg/Getty Images

    The Spin

    FEMA funding, which pays for irreplaceable personnel like Coast Guard soldiers and TSA agents, keeps Americans safe from disasters. Blocking relief money over political disputes threatens emergency responses when massive storms leave thousands without power. And even if Trump wanted to shift the burden to states, from which his plan would strip money, private volunteers and local authorities can't afford the hundreds of billions of dollars it costs to protect Americans each year.

    FEMA's outdated disaster aid system wastes years on inspections and reimbursements when communities need immediate help. A new parametric model would deliver money within 30 days based on objective triggers like wind speed, eliminating bureaucratic delays that leave survivors with pittance checks while their homes lie in ruins. As Trump seeks to cut waste and make emergency responses more efficient, Democrats are threatening to block disaster funding to win political points.



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    © 2026 Improve the News Foundation. All rights reserved.Version 6.18.0

    © 2026 Improve the News Foundation.

    All rights reserved.

    Version 6.18.0