dhs cutting core staff at FEMA

Just the other day I was in the process of trying to line up a Disaster Zone Podcast guest to talk about the status of emergency management as a profession. I shared that we should do something sooner than later and then release the podcast quickly before the situation changes again—which I expect it will evolve quickly in 2026.

Then today there was this,DHS begins slashing FEMA Disaster Response Staff as 2026 begins

This singular action is not the end of civilization as we know it, but the radical changes already made and those being proposed by the Trump Administration makes everyone nervous. 

If the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) does retreat from disaster response and the process for giving funding to states is drastically paired back, then FEMA will not need as many staff. 

I’m expecting a future clash between Congress and the Administration over the proposed changes in how disaster recovery is funded. You can be sure states are talking to their federally elected representatives about the proposed changes and the challenges states will face moving forward.