Donald Trump Wants FEMA 'Remade,' Not Eradicated—DHS Secretary

After months of criticizing FEMA as "ineffective" and calling for its termination, President Donald Trump is now signaling a shift in strategy—favoring reform over elimination.

Speaking on Meet the Press, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the president no longer intends to dismantle the Federal Emergency Management Agency but wants to "remake" it so that it supports states more effectively and reduces bureaucratic delays during disasters.

The announcement comes after Trump and Noem toured Kerr County, Texas, where catastrophic flooding claimed over 120 lives. Trump approved expanded disaster declarations and praised the rapid, multi-agency federal response—which included the Coast Guard, Border Patrol, FEMA, and local first responders.

Trump's earlier remarks had painted FEMA as bloated and wasteful. In February, he called for states to handle disasters independently and accused FEMA under the Biden administration of “total disaster.” However, White House officials now say that Trump’s FEMA Review Council is working on recommendations to “right-size” the agency so it can remain a supplemental resource rather than a lead responder.

Former FEMA administrator Deanne Criswell emphasized in a recent op-ed that FEMA was never intended to take over disaster response but to assist local and state governments when overwhelmed. That position aligns with Noem’s comments, which highlight a shift toward empowering states to lead while streamlining federal support.

This evolving policy has already affected FEMA’s operations. Trump’s administration denied federal funds to some Democratic-led states earlier this year—raising questions about whether political factors played a role in disaster relief decisions. Meanwhile, DHS has praised its Kerr County response as "historic" and "unprecedented" in both speed and efficiency.

White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson reaffirmed this new direction, saying:

“President Trump is committed to right-sizing the Federal government while empowering State and local governments... FEMA's outsized role created a bloated bureaucracy that disincentivized state investment in their own resilience.”

For now, FEMA remains in operation, but its role may look very different in the future. Whether this new model improves disaster response or creates new challenges will be closely watched—especially as climate-related disasters continue to rise in frequency and scale.