Ranking Member Robert Garcia Demands Explanation for How FEMA Plans to Respond to Disasters After Trump Guts Critical Agency
Washington, D.C. — Today, Rep. Robert Garcia, Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, wrote to David Richardson, the senior official performing the duties of the FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) Administrator, to investigate the impact of the Trump Administration’s illegal staffing cuts, cancellation of preparedness programs, denial of funding to states for recovery programs, and incompetence by Secretary Kristi Noem on FEMA’s disaster readiness. This letter is the fourth in a series of inquiries to the Trump Administration regarding gross mismanagement of disaster preparedness and response.
In the letter to David Richardson, the senior official performing the duties of the FEMA Administrator, Ranking Member Robert Garcia wrote, “When Americans face natural disasters and large-scale emergencies, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) should be there to provide the lifesaving preparation, response, and recovery support they need. Yet President Donald Trump and his Administration have purged dedicated FEMA workers, shuttered essential FEMA offices and programs, and persistently threatened drastic reorganizations and even the closure of FEMA. A dangerous storm or national emergency will come, and the American people deserve a government that is prepared to respond. To identify and address the dangers of President Trump’s catastrophic changes to FEMA before they cost Americans their homes, financial wellbeing, and lives, I demand information about how FEMA plans to fulfill its statutory responsibilities to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters and emergencies moving forward.”
In July, Ranking Member Garcia joined Texas Reps. Greg Casar and Jasmine Crockett in demanding answers about the lead-up and response to the recent Texas flooding tragedy and preparedness for future emergencies, including the impact of DOGE cuts on the National Weather Service (NWS), and demanding answers about Secretary Kristi Noem’s reported delay of FEMA search and rescue assets. In September, Ranking Member Garcia demanded answers regarding the Trump Administration’s illegal retaliation against FEMA employees for exercising their rights to make protected whistleblower disclosures about how the Administration is damaging FEMA’s ability to do its job. In October, Ranking Member Garcia escalated the investigation of the Trump Administration’s illegal targeting of FEMA employees to the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) independent watchdog.
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