Ranking Member Thompson: GAO Confirms Trump Administration Gutted FEMA's Workforce, Weakening Disaster Response
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Homeland Security Committee Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) issued the following statement after the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report finding that the Trump administration's workforce reductions and lack of strategic planning have jeopardized the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) ability to carry out its core missions:
“This report confirms what we have been saying for over a year: the Trump administration’s drastic cuts to FEMA’s workforce – as well as forcing thousands of personnel to quit – have damaged the agency’s ability to respond to disasters and has rid it of critical institutional knowledge.
“Canceling its inane plan to eliminate FEMA is not enough, the Trump administration must take steps to reverse workforce cuts to FEMA. Sadly – even though we are in the middle of hurricane season – I see none of this happening. Without a permanent and experienced leader at FEMA, any workforce analysis, or strategic direction, I see no meaningful progress in sight.”
GAO recommended FEMA issue a strategic plan with clear goals and objectives and develop and implement a comprehensive workforce planning process. It also recommended Congress consider requiring FEMA to base significant workforce decisions on that planning and report the results before each hurricane season.
The report comes as Committee Democrats continue to press the Trump administration to rebuild FEMA's workforce and restore the agency's disaster response capabilities. Previously, Committee Democrats have requested GAO investigate FEMA’s workforce reductions and impact on readiness. In May, Committee Democrats demanded DHS act on FEMA’s lack of readiness leading into hurricane season.
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