No.
A president alone cannot disband the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) through executive orders.
President Donald Trump has made comments about “phasing out” FEMA after the 2025 hurricane season. He’s considered reassigning disaster relief responsibilities to the state level or relocating a limited-capacity FEMA from the DHS into a new department.
His administration has cut hundreds of employees from the agency through a FEMA Review Council. The firings align with Trump’s goal to cut costs within the federal government.
But Congress is the only entity that can eliminate or reform FEMA. The agency’s structure and responsibilities are outlined in the Stafford Act. Congress would have to amend this act, which would require a new bill to pass in both the U.S. House and Senate for the president to sign.
While its resources are becoming more limited, it’s likely FEMA will still provide aid during the 2025 hurricane season.
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Sources
- You Tube Trump News Conference
- Harvard Law School Explainer Article on FEMA
- Federal Emergency Management Agency Stafford Act
- USA.Gov How Laws Are Made
