The Trump administration says it wants to eliminate FEMA. Here's what we know

Rebecca Hersher

People impacted by wildfires in 2025 seek information and relief at a FEMA Disaster Recovery Center in Pasadena, Calif. The president has said the Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, should be eliminated, and has appointed a group of high level officials to recommend options for restructuring or reforming the agency.

President Trump says the Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, should be eliminated, and that states should take on more responsibility for responding to and preparing for extreme weather and other disasters.

That would mean big changes for the millions of Americans who rely on FEMA after hurricanes, wildfires, tornadoes, floods and other weather disasters every year. The cost of weather disasters in the U.S. has skyrocketed in the last decade, as climate change causes more intense weather and populations grow in areas that are at high risk for hurricanes, wildfires and other destructive events.

FEMA currently works with states to prepare for disasters, provides on-the-ground help during emergencies and pays out billions of dollars for repairs. Emergency management experts and state disaster response officials say that FEMA plays a crucial role that state governments cannot handle on their own.