During a visit to North Carolina to assess damage from Hurricane Helene, former President Donald Trump suggested that he might eliminate the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
He criticized the agency, calling it slow, overly bureaucratic, and expensive for the federal government.
“FEMA’s turned out to be a disaster,” Trump said, adding that he was considering sending disaster relief funds directly to states instead of going through the agency.

Proposed Plan for Disaster Relief
Trump proposed a new approach where states would manage their own disaster recovery efforts. Instead of FEMA coordinating responses, states would receive federal funds directly to handle relief efforts independently.
“When there’s a problem with a state, that problem should be taken care of by the state,”
Trump said, arguing that governors could respond more efficiently without federal involvement.
To oversee North Carolina’s recovery, Trump appointed Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley, who is from the state, to work alongside Democratic Governor Josh Stein.
FEMA Officials Scramble for Answers
Trump’s remarks caused confusion among FEMA officials, who immediately sought clarification on what this could mean for the agency’s future.
Former FEMA Chief Deanne Criswell warned that eliminating FEMA could have serious consequences, especially with tornado and hurricane seasons approaching.
She highlighted the agency’s critical role in coordinating disaster response, such as debris removal and search-and-rescue operations.
“Do states have the resources to protect their residents without FEMA?” she asked, emphasizing that FEMA also reimburses states for emergency operations.
Concerns for Displaced Families
Many residents of western North Carolina are now uncertain about their future after the hurricane.
FEMA reported that 13,000 households have used its transitional shelter assistance program, which has been extended until May 26.
However, some displaced families have struggled to get clear answers about what assistance they qualify for and when it will end.
Adding to the confusion, misinformation has spread online about FEMA’s funding, with false claims that money was being redirected to migrant services instead of disaster recovery.
Trump amplified some of these claims, fueling further concerns.
Debates Over Disaster Relief Spending
Trump’s visit comes as Republicans in Congress debate how to fund disaster relief while also controlling government spending.
With Republicans now in charge of both the House and Senate, many conservative lawmakers are calling for spending cuts.
House Speaker Mike Johnson emphasized that they must be “cognizant of how we pay for the bills”, while Trump laid out conditions for California aid, including requiring voter identification and changes to the state’s water management policies.
“You want to have proof of citizenship. Ideally, you have one-day voting. But I just want voter ID as a start,”
Trump said, linking these conditions to federal aid for California’s wildfire response.
Mixed Reactions from Republicans
Not all Republicans agree with Trump’s stance. Representative Young Kim of California pushed back against conditions on emergency aid, stating:
“We cannot play politics with Americans’ livelihoods.”
Despite these debates, Trump suggested that Democrats’ requests for federal aid would make passing his broader spending agenda easier.
“They’re going to need a lot of money, and generally speaking, I think you find that a lot of Democrats are going to be asking for help,”
At the same time, he claimed that while Democrats seek aid for California, they “don’t care” about North Carolina.
Trump’s comments have sparked controversy and uncertainty about the future of FEMA and disaster relief in the U.S.
As debates continue, many disaster-affected families remain unsure about how they will receive assistance in the coming months.