An uncertain future for FEMA and the administrative state

After several well-documented scandals last year, including reportedly denying service to hurricane victims with MAGA flags, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) faces an uncertain future under a new administration.

Last week, while touring North Carolina to survey the aftermath of 2024’s Hurricane Helene, President Donald Trump touted the possibility of reforming or ending FEMA, citing his confidence that the states are better suited to handle natural disasters. 

“I’ll . . . be signing an executive order to begin the process of fundamentally reforming and overhauling FEMA, or maybe getting rid of FEMA,” he said. “I think, frankly, FEMA is not good.”

“I’d like to see the states take care of disasters, let the state take care of the tornadoes and the hurricanes,” he added. “And I think you’re going to find it a lot less expensive. You’ll do it for less than half and you’re going to get a lot quicker response.”

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The Founders intended, as revealed by the Constitution, to leave as many issues to the states as possible. Additionally, after FEMA’s poor response to Helene, voters revealed in a survey that they largely approved of how the governors of impacted states handled the crisis. A majority (55%) approved, while less than half (43%) approved of FEMA’s response.

In other words, Trump’s pitch to return power to the states aligns with the will of the people.

The federal bureaucracy has proven itself dangerous, inefficient, and expensive. The question becomes, why should we continue to allow a little intellectual elite in a far-distant capital to do a job that the states can do better?

This week, Convention of States is focused on restoring power to the states (and people) by combating federal overreach. Our application to call an Article V convention to propose amendments limiting Washington’s power and jurisdiction continues to make progress through state legislatures across America. To urge your state legislators to join the grassroots movement to restore federalism to America, sign the Convention of States petition below.