Washington: U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Sunday, creating a review council tasked with evaluating the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The decision stops short of immediate action to dismantle or reshape the nation’s primary disaster response agency.
The newly formed council will consist of federal leaders and “distinguished individuals” selected by Trump from outside the government. The executive order mandates the council to hold its inaugural public meeting within 90 days and to submit a detailed report to the president within 180 days of that meeting.
During visits to disaster-stricken areas in North Carolina and California on Friday, Trump floated the possibility of shuttering FEMA. He criticized the agency’s handling of emergency relief efforts and suggested that states should instead receive federal funds to manage disasters independently.
“There are serious concerns about political bias within FEMA, and funds have been used for programs unrelated to disaster relief, such as those involving incoming migrants,” Trump stated in his order.
FEMA’s role includes deploying emergency personnel, equipment, and supplies to assist communities in recovering from natural disasters. The agency’s funding has significantly increased in recent years, reflecting the growing frequency and severity of extreme weather events.
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Cam Hamilton, the acting head of FEMA, addressed staff on Friday to reaffirm the agency’s importance. “FEMA is a critical agency which performs an essential mission in support of our national security,” Hamilton wrote in a memo.
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In the past year, FEMA has also had to combat misinformation about its disaster response efforts, particularly in Florida and North Carolina.
