Trump proposes 'getting rid' of emergency agency while touring disaster areas

U.S. President Donald Trump visited disaster areas in California and North Carolina on Friday, stating he was considering "doing away with" the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), signaling a potential overhaul of the core agency responsible for the nation's disaster response. In fire-ravaged California, the state's Democratic leaders pressed Trump for federal aid, which he had previously threatened to withhold, with some even setting aside past grievances to offer praise.

In response, Trump pressured local officials to waive permit requirements so people could immediately rebuild their homes and promised that federal permits would be quickly approved. The Republican president indicated that Washington could provide funds directly to states, rather than having federal financial aid flow through FEMA. He made these remarks during his visit to North Carolina, which is still recovering months after Hurricane "Helen," marking his first trip of his second term.

"FEMA has been very disappointing," the Republican president said. "It's very bureaucratic, and it's very slow." Trump was greeted in California by Governor Gavin Newsom, a critic whom the president has frequently disparaged. Despite their contentious history, the two spoke cordially and expressed a willingness to cooperate. "We need your support, we need your help," Newsom told Trump. "You helped us during COVID. I won't forget it, and I look forward to us working together to achieve a rapid recovery." Newsom had previously praised Trump when seeking federal assistance, calling him "thoughtful" and "collaborative" during the early days of the COVID outbreak.

Trump flew over several destroyed neighborhoods in the presidential helicopter, Marine One, before landing in Pacific Palisades, a heavily damaged community that is also home to some of Southern California's wealthy and famous. Accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump, he walked along a street where all the homes had been burned, talking to residents and police officers. Trump later stated that only by seeing the devastation firsthand could one understand its severity. The ongoing fires could potentially become the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history. "It's a catastrophe, it's really a burning," Trump said.

Trump's brief but amicable interaction with Newsom belied his confrontational stance toward California earlier in the day. Even on the flight to Los Angeles, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was using Trump's derogatory nickname for the governor, "Newsom," and telling reporters that "he has failed the people of his state," adding that Trump was making the trip to pressure Newsom and other officials "to do the right thing for their citizens." Trump stated that Los Angeles residents who had lost their homes should be able to return to their properties immediately to clean up, adding that some had told him it could take months to rebuild. Mayor Karen Bass said residents should be able to return home within the next week, but ensuring people are kept away from hazardous materials is a priority. She said the city was streamlining the permitting process, but Trump interrupted her repeatedly as she tried to explain the city's efforts. He brushed off concerns about toxins, saying, "What is hazardous waste? We have to define it." Trump has long downplayed the risks of asbestos. In his 1997 book, "The Art of the Comeback," Trump called asbestos "the greatest fireproofing material ever" and "100% safe, once applied," and claimed that the movement against the insulation was led by the Mafia, "because it's usually Mafia-related companies that do asbestos removal."

Before flying to California, Trump reiterated that he wanted concessions from the Democratic-led state in exchange for disaster aid, including changes to water policies and requiring voters to show identification when they vote. In addition to his criticism of FEMA, Trump also suggested limiting the federal government’s role in responding to disasters, echoing talking points from conservative allies who have called for reduced funding and responsibility. "I want to see the states handle disasters," he said in North Carolina. "Let the states handle the tornadoes, the hurricanes, and whatever else is happening." Trump said that North Carolina native Michael Whatley, chairman of the Republican National Committee, would help coordinate the state’s recovery, which has been frustrated with the federal government’s response. Although Whatley does not hold a formal government position, Trump said he would be "largely in charge."

FEMA helps respond to disasters when local leaders request a presidential emergency declaration, indicating that the losses are beyond the state's own capabilities. FEMA can reimburse governments for recovery efforts, such as debris removal, and provide temporary financial assistance to individual residents. Trump criticized the administration of former President Joe Biden for its response to "Helen" in North Carolina. Leaving the White House on Friday morning, he told reporters that "it's been allowed to fester, which is terrible," since the storm hit in September, and "we're going to get it fixed." In a small town in western North Carolina, residents told Trump that they had waded through waist-deep water to escape their homes while fearing for their lives. Some have been fighting with insurance companies to cover their losses. "We come to North Carolina with a simple message," Trump said. "You're no longer forgotten. You were treated very badly by the previous administration."

FEMA has distributed $319 million in financial aid to residents, but that has not eased the sense of abandonment among those struggling to rebuild their lives. Trump, who has expressed disdain for California leaders over water policies, falsely claimed that those policies had exacerbated the recent fires. He said he would be "looking at a fire that could have been put out if they let the water flow, but they didn’t let the water flow." In Los Angeles, he met with members of Congress from both parties and local officials in meetings that were at times contentious. Michael Coen, who served as FEMA's chief of staff during the Biden administration, said that Trump "misunderstands" the agency, which provides critical assistance when states are overwhelmed by disasters. Additionally, Coen criticized the idea of attaching conditions to aid. "I think the American people expect the federal government to help them in their worst days, no matter where they live," he said.

Trump has appointed Cameron Hamilton, a former Navy SEAL with limited experience in managing natural disasters, as the acting director of FEMA. Friday's trip could spark some uncomfortable conversations about climate change, which Trump has downplayed and denied. Both "Helen" and the Los Angeles wildfires have been exacerbated by global warming. In the case of "Helen," a study by the World Weather Attribution group, an international team of climate scientists, found that climate change increased the storm’s rainfall by 10%. In California, the state experienced a record dry fall and winter—its traditional rainy season—which made the area around Los Angeles more susceptible to fires. "It's just breaking us out of our comfort zone of what is normal," said Amanda Stasiewicz, a researcher at the University of Oregon. Following his visits to North Carolina and California, Trump is scheduled to hold a rally in Las Vegas on Saturday.