Shrinking or Abolishing FEMA is a Grave Risk to US National Security

The Council on Strategic Risks warns that proposed efforts by the Trump Administration to eliminate or restructure FEMA pose a grave risk to US national security. The author contends that FEMA is essential for protecting American lives, preventing foreign and domestic exploitation during disasters, and supporting military readiness. The document highlights recent cuts to staff and the elimination of the Building Resilience Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program as detrimental, suggesting that the agency requires modernization and investment rather than dismantling.

• The Trump Administration has signaled intentions to shrink, restructure, or abolish FEMA, with DHS Secretary Kristi Noem stating in March that the administration intends to "eliminate FEMA."
• Recent administrative actions have already degraded FEMA's capacity through staff cuts, the halting of disaster relief payments, the termination of the FEMA-Americorps partnership, and the elimination of the approximately $5 billion Building Resilience Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program.
• FEMA's role in disaster response is critical for national security because a lack of competent federal response creates opportunities for foreign adversaries, such as Russia and China, and domestic extremists to spread disinformation and undermine government legitimacy.
• FEMA supports US military readiness by protecting military facilities through the Sentinel Landscapes Partnership and by serving the approximately two-thirds of military personnel who live off-base.
• The agency reduces the burden on the US military by building local response capacity through the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program and protecting 16 Critical Infrastructure Sectors.
• FEMA contributes to international security by providing technical expertise to strategic partners in areas such as building code modernization and climate adaptation, and by assisting in responses to overseas crises, including the invasion of Ukraine.
• The document argues that instead of dismantling, FEMA needs modernization to address antiquated technology platforms, limited staffing, and outdated administrative processes.

APA

The Council on Strategic Risks (2025). Shrinking or Abolishing FEMA is a Grave Risk to US National Security. https://councilonstrategicrisks.org/2025/05/01/shrinking-or-abolishing-fema-is-a-grave-risk-to-us-national-security/

Chicago

The Council on Strategic Risks. Shrinking or Abolishing FEMA is a Grave Risk to US National Security. 2025. https://councilonstrategicrisks.org/2025/05/01/shrinking-or-abolishing-fema-is-a-grave-risk-to-us-national-security/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=The Council on Strategic Risks |title=Shrinking or Abolishing FEMA is a Grave Risk to US National Security |date=1 May 2025 |url=https://councilonstrategicrisks.org/2025/05/01/shrinking-or-abolishing-fema-is-a-grave-risk-to-us-national-security/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{thecouncilonstrategicrisks2025shrinking, author = {{The Council on Strategic Risks}}, title = {{Shrinking or Abolishing FEMA is a Grave Risk to US National Security}}, publisher = {The Council on Strategic Risks}, year = {2025}, month = may, url = {https://councilonstrategicrisks.org/2025/05/01/shrinking-or-abolishing-fema-is-a-grave-risk-to-us-national-security/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }