Just weeks ago, President Donald Trump voiced his intention to begin “phasing out” the Federal Emergency Management Agency after the current hurricane season, aiming to “wean off of FEMA” and shift disaster response responsibilities to the states.
Yet now, following months of pledges to reform or dismantle the federal disaster response agency, the Trump administration is embracing a swift and sizable federal reaction to the catastrophic floods in Texas. The move signals a shift back toward a more conventional approach to disaster management — a noticeable departure from the president’s earlier push for dramatic restructuring.
Trump approved Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s request for a major disaster declaration within a day, triggering the release of FEMA resources and federal aid for individuals and communities. During a Cabinet meeting Tuesday, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem praised the agency’s rapid action, telling Trump, “We’re cutting through the red tape of the old FEMA, streamlining the process — in line with your vision for how FEMA should function.”
