Trump orders review of Fema after saying disaster agency ‘is not good’

Donald Trump has ordered an investigation into whether there should be a radical shake-up of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema), the US government’s body for responding to natural disasters, after saying he supported its abolition.

In a new executive order, the returning president appointed a review council to examine the workings of the agency, which he accused of political bias and of denying aid to his supporters.

“Despite obligating nearly $30 billion in disaster aid each of the past three years, Fema has managed to leave vulnerable Americans without the resources or support they need when they need it most,” the order stated, adding “there are serious concerns of political bias in Fema”.

The order also accused the agency of going beyond its remit by spending more than $1bn “to welcome illegal aliens”, although it did not provide evidence.

The review council will consist of “no more than 20 members” and will included the new secretaries of defence and homeland security, Pete Hegseth and Kristi Noem.

The council is to report to Trump within 180 days.

The order was issued after Trump fiercely criticised Fema on Friday during a visit to North Carolina, where more than 100 people were killed in Hurricane Helene last September.

Fema rescue operations were the subject of a flood of disinformation from Trump and his supporters on social media, some of it disseminated by Elon Musk, the owner of X and the president’s most vocal backer.

Deanne Criswell, the agency’s then director, called the deluge of conspiracy theories “absolutely the worst I have ever seen” and warned that it was hampering relief efforts.

During his North Carolina visit, Trump said: “Fema has turned out to be a disaster. I think we recommend that Fema go away. I think, frankly, that Fema is not good.”

In fact, Trump does not have the presidential authority to terminate Fema, which falls under the purview of the Department of Homeland Security and can only be abolished by congressional action.

Cam Hamilton, who Trump appointed as the new acting head of Fema last week, wrote to staff assuring them of the agency’s continued role.

“Fema is a critical agency which performs an essential mission in support of our national security,” he wrote.

“President Trump has laid out his intent to reform Fema, and we stand firmly at the ready to implement real and lasting reform. We have some work to do at Fema and restoring public confidence in this agency is essential.