Fired DHS head Kristi Noem pushed to cut FEMA staff by 50%, give states bigger disaster role: docs
WASHINGTON — A draft report from the FEMA Review Council outlines sweeping changes that could dramatically reshape the Federal Emergency Management Agency, including cutting its workforce by half and redistributing staff across the country, according to documents obtained by The Post.
The council, co-chaired by Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, recommended a new model in which states take the lead on emergency response while the federal government assumes a supportive role.
“FEMA needs a complete overhaul,” the draft report states. “Its core missions must be redesigned, transforming it into a responsive and supportive agency. The ‘FEMA’ brand has been significantly weakened by mission creep and programmatic failures over the past four years.”
Among the suggested reforms is a shift of FEMA’s Public Assistance program to a block grant system. Under this model, the federal government would cover 50% of disaster relief costs, rising to 75% for states that demonstrate effective use of taxpayer funds. Currently, FEMA reimburses 75% of eligible costs, with the possibility of covering 100% in extreme cases. The change aims to reduce bureaucratic delays and administrative expenses, which the report said can consume nearly a quarter of disaster relief funding.
The draft also proposes privatizing parts of the National Flood Insurance Program, which currently carries roughly $20 billion in debt, and speeding up payouts for older disasters, such as Hurricane Katrina in 2005. While these upfront payments would be costly, the report argues they would ultimately save money by allowing FEMA to retire outdated systems maintained for past events.
A major personnel change is also recommended: reducing FEMA’s workforce from more than 24,000 employees to about 12,000, with 6,500 in regional offices and 5,500 in Washington, D.C. Currently, over 18,000 FEMA staff are based in the capital. The report further suggests considering relocation of FEMA headquarters outside Washington, though no specific locations are mentioned.
“This framework prioritizes action on the ground over bureaucracy and prepares the nation for future disaster challenges,” the draft reads.
President Trump tasked the council with evaluating FEMA in January 2025. Noem, previously governor of South Dakota, has publicly promoted giving states a stronger role in disaster management.
FEMA has faced criticism for its handling of several major disasters dating back to Hurricane Katrina. By December 2024, about 500,000 assistance applications were pending following Hurricanes Helene and Milton in the Southeast. The draft noted that staffing shortages—35% below the agency’s target in fiscal year 2022—have hindered FEMA’s effectiveness.
The report also cited watchdog findings of $8.1 billion in questioned or improper payments and highlighted an intense disaster period from 2021 to 2024, during which FEMA responded to 509 significant events.
The council’s work continues under an extension by Trump through March 25. A White House official emphasized that draft reports are preliminary and not finalized. A DHS spokesperson added that the final report will be released publicly only after approval by the co-chairs and council members.
Five versions of the draft were reviewed by The Post in preparing its report. Last week, Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) presented two drafts to Noem during a tense House Judiciary Committee hearing, criticizing her for cutting key content.
“You removed contributions from governors, emergency managers, FEMA experts, and national security professionals,” Moskowitz said. According to sources, Noem reduced a 122-page draft to 22 pages, mostly charts and executive summaries, before much of the original content was later reinstated for submission to the White House.
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