FEMA in Crisis: Former Leaders Warn U.S. Disaster Response Is ‘Dangerously Weak’ Amid Texas Flood Aftermath
Agency Faces Staffing Exodus, Funding Cuts, and Leadership Vacuum as Hurricane Season Intensifies
As Texas begins to recover from historic flooding that left more than 120 dead, former officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are raising urgent alarms about the agency’s ability to respond to the next major catastrophe.
With 2,000 staff departures, a collapse in morale, and sweeping budget cuts, FEMA’s capacity to manage multiple concurrent disasters has been severely degraded, say former senior leaders. The revelations come amid growing fears over the 2025 hurricane season and new uncertainty around FEMA’s future under the Trump administration.
FEMA’s Capacity “Eroded”: Ex-Chief of Staff Sounds Alarm
Michael Coen, FEMA’s former Chief of Staff, who also serv...