The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is facing significant personnel cuts under the Trump administration, raising concerns about the agency’s ability to respond effectively to disasters as U.S. communities increasingly confront the impacts of climate change. Reports emerged this week indicating that FEMA has begun issuing termination notices to employees within its Cadre of On-Call Response and Recovery (CORE) team, with layoffs effective January 2. Independent journalist Marisa Kabas highlighted that this development prompted an outcry from within the agency, with a FEMA staffer referring to the layoffs as “The New Year’s Eve Massacre.”
According to reports, the decision to proceed with the layoffs was made by Acting Administrator Karen Evans, who took over from former Acting Administrator David Richardson following his resignation in November. A former FEMA official expressed that the agency is “unable to perform disaster response and recovery” without the CORE employees who are being laid off. The official noted that the regional offices, which primarily consist of CORE staff, would lack their first responders during natural emergencies, leaving states to fend for themselves during critical recovery periods.
Furthermore, anxiety is reportedly widespread among remaining FEMA employees, as there are fears that these cuts could be indicative of a broader initiative by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to further reduce FEMA’s workforce. This situation arises as President Trump has previously expressed intentions to fundamentally reform FEMA, raising doubts about the federal agency’s relevancy in national disasters. He has suggested that individual states should take on more responsibility for disaster management, critiquing FEMA’s effectiveness.
These cuts come at a precarious time, as the frequency and severity of natural disasters are anticipated to rise due to climate change. A recent report from the Yale School of the Environment noted that the last three years have been the hottest on record, exceeding preindustrial temperature averages by more than 1.5°C, and emphasizing the urgent need for effective disaster preparedness and response.
As FEMA grapples with these staffing challenges amid escalating climate-related threats, the ramifications of such cuts will likely be felt nationwide, particularly in communities vulnerable to the devastating effects of natural disasters.