A new bipartisan proposal would significantly overhaul FEMA and ensure that there is no political discrimination in the distribution of emergency aid.
The proposal, from Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO) and Rep. Rick Larson (D-WA), would make FEMA an independent agency that directly reports to the president, transfer significant responsibility to the states for handling natural disaster responses, and officially prohibit political discrimination. Graves, the chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, released a <a href="https://transportation.house.gov/uploadedfiles/fema_discussion_draft_text.pdf?utm_campaign=198289-345" target="_blank" rel="noopener">draft</a> of the bill on Thursday.
&#8220;We have clearly seen that FEMA is not working as it should for Americans who’ve been impacted by disasters. Congress has passed FEMA reforms over the years, but it simply hasn’t been enough,&#8221; Graves said. &#8220;This draft bill includes substantive changes that will transform FEMA and our emergency programs to be much more state and locally driven – not micro-managed into ineffectiveness by the federal government.&#8221;
One of the key components of the draft legislation is that it would add &#8220;political affiliation&#8221; as a protected status under current federal law. Senator James Lankford (R-OK) <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-senator-vows-to-stop-fema-from-discriminating-against-republicans" target="_blank" rel="noopener">previously introduced</a> legislation in the Senate that would do the same thing.
This proposal comes after The Daily Wire <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-fema-official-ordered-relief-workers-to-skip-houses-with-trump-signs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> in November that FEMA supervisor Marn&#8217;i Washington ordered relief workers in Lake Placid, Florida, to skip the homes of people &#8220;advertising Trump.&#8221; Washington and three other FEMA employees were fired over the instructions, which caused over 20 homes to be skipped by FEMA workers.
The draft legislation would also seek to return more agency to the states &#8220;by replacing the slow and bureaucratic rebuilding process with faster, project-based grants&#8221; and reducing &#8220;their dependence on costly consultants,&#8221; according to the committee. The lawmakers also hope to streamline the application process for requesting assistance by reducing paperwork and providing quicker responses.
Graves and Larson also want to incentivize states to make their own investments in mitigation, robust state rainy day funds, and private insurance policies.
The proposal comes as President Donald Trump has called for dramatic reforms to FEMA and floated the idea of getting rid of the agency completely. In an executive order, he called for the creation of a federal council to look at the possibility of getting rid of FEMA and shifting over responsibility to the states.
On Thursday, Acting FEMA Administrator Cameron Hamilton was fired and replaced with Department of Homeland Security official David Richardson. Hamilton&#8217;s ouster comes one day after he said that he personally didn&#8217;t think that it would be a good idea to get rid of FEMA.

Storm Helene Causes Massive Flooding Across Swath Of Western North Carolina

Lawmakers Renew Efforts To Protect Disaster Victims From Political Discrimination

Congress

FEMA

Natural Disaster

Trump Administration

U.S.

The acting administrator of FEMA has been ousted one day after he said that he disagreed with the Trump administration&#8217;s push to dismantle the agency and return emergency response authority back to the states.
Acting FEMA Administrator Cameron Hamilton was fired on Thursday and replaced with another senior Department of Homeland Security official. DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin confirmed to The Daily Wire that David Richardson, currently the assistant secretary for DHS&#8217; Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office, would be taking on the role of senior official performing the duties of administrator.
Hamilton&#8217;s firing comes after he testified before the House Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Homeland Security and said he did not support eliminating FEMA.
“As the senior advisor to the president on disasters and emergency management, and to the Secretary of Homeland Security, I do not believe it is in the best interest the American people to eliminate the Federal Emergency Management Agency,” he said on Wednesday. “Having said that, I am not in a position to make decisions and impact outcomes on whether or not a determination as consequential as that should be made. That is a conversation that should be had between the President of the United States and this governing body.”
President Donald Trump formed a government council earlier this year intended to evaluate FEMA and potentially consider its elimination.
“I am proud to announce the formation of the FEMA Review Council, comprised of Top Experts in their fields, who are Highly Respected by their peers,” Trump <a href="https://x.com/TrumpDailyPosts/status/1916943942156734688">posted</a> on Truth Social last week. “I know that the new Members will work hard to fix a terribly broken System, and return power to State Emergency Managers, who will help, MAKE AMERICA SAFE AGAIN. Congratulations to all!”
That came after he <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-promises-overhaul-of-fema-floats-getting-rid-of-agency?author=Leif+Le+Mahieu&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Trump+Promises+Overhaul+Of+FEMA%2C+Floats+‘Getting+Rid+Of’+Agency" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in January that he was looking at potentially &#8220;getting rid&#8221; of FEMA and giving states more control over their response to natural disasters. Under Trump&#8217;s plan, the federal government would still provide funding for emergency operations.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-dem-no-evidence-fema-discriminated-against-trump-supporters-under-biden?author=Leif+Le+Mahieu&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=House+Dem%3A+‘No+Evidence’+FEMA+Discriminated+Against+Trump+Supporters+Under+Biden" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> Tuesday that Trump believed that FEMA had largely failed the American people.
“President Trump has been very clear since the beginning that he believes that FEMA and its response, in many, many circumstances, has failed the American people and that FEMA, as it exists today, should be eliminated and empowering states to respond to disasters with federal government support,” she said.
FEMA has come under fire in recent months after it was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-fema-official-ordered-relief-workers-to-skip-houses-with-trump-signs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">found</a> to have skipped the homes of Trump supporters in Florida for political reasons. The agency was also criticized over its sluggish response to Hurricane Helene in North Carolina.

Acting Director Of FEMA Cam Hamilton Testifies Before House Appropriations Subcommittee

Top FEMA Official Fired After Saying He Doesn’t Think Agency Should Be Dismantled

Department of Homeland Security

Donald Trump

Executive

Kristi Noem

Connecticut Democratic Rep. Rosa DeLauro claimed Tuesday that there was &#8220;no evidence&#8221; that FEMA discriminated against disaster victims based on political affiliation under President Joe Biden, even though one agency supervisor was fired last year after directing relief workers to skip Trump homes during his administration.
DeLauro made the comments as she questioned Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem during a congressional hearing about the Trump administration&#8217;s plans to bring dramatic reforms to FEMA. DeLauro downplayed the need for changes at FEMA, saying that she had seen little evidence of failure.
“Where is the evidence of the failure of FEMA?” she asked Noem. 
“Congresswoman, we still have claims open from Hurricane Katrina. We have fire claims that are still unpaid to people who said they were due them seven to eight to ten years old, that have never been paid by FEMA,&#8221; Noem replied. &#8220;So one of the worst things that the federal government can do is to stand up in front of the American public and say, ‘We will be there, we will walk alongside you in the most horrible time of your life,’ and then never follow through on that. What the president has said is that he&#8217;s sick and tired of federal agencies that pick and choose who wins and who loses.”
DeLauro responded by saying that FEMA&#8217;s Office of Professional Responsibility found &#8220;no evidence, no direction of agency or field leadership to discriminate against disaster victims based on political affiliation&#8221; under Biden, she said, brushing off the fact that FEMA supervisor Marn&#8217;i Washington was fired in November 2024 after directing supervisors to skip homes &#8220;advertising Trump&#8221; in Lake Placid, Florida.
Noem told DeLauro that she would provide her with evidence of the agency&#8217;s failings.
In February, the Office of Special Counsel <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/fema-supervisor-lied-about-threats-to-get-workers-to-skip-trump-homes-special-counsel-finds?author=Leif+Le+Mahieu&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=FEMA+Supervisor+Lied+About+Threats+To+Get+Workers+To+Skip+Trump+Homes%2C+Special+Counsel+Finds" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> that Washington had issued the discriminatory directive, confirming what The Daily Wire had first reported in November 2024. The office recommended that Washington face further disciplinary action over the directive, finding that she had lied about alleged threats facing relief workers in the area.
Just one month later, FEMA <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/3-more-fema-employees-fired-after-probe-into-guidance-to-skip-trump-homes?author=Leif+Le+Mahieu&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=3+More+FEMA+Employees+Fired+After+Probe+Into+Order+To+Skip+Trump+Homes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fired</a> three more employees as part of the investigation into Washington&#8217;s directive. While the agency said that these employees weren&#8217;t directly involved, it did say that they were in her supervisory chain.
President Donald Trump cited the incident in an executive order he issued in January, directing the creation of a council to look into getting rid of FEMA and returning control over natural disaster response to the states.
“There are serious concerns of political bias in FEMA,” Trump wrote in the executive order. “Indeed, at least one former FEMA responder has stated that FEMA managers directed her to avoid homes of individuals supporting the campaign of Donald J. Trump for President.”
When asked Tuesday what about the administration&#8217;s plans for FEMA, Noem said they were looking at shifting power to the states.
&#8220;President Trump has been very clear since the beginning that he believes that FEMA and its response, in many, many circumstances, has failed the American people and that FEMA, as it exists today, should be eliminated and empowering states to respond to disasters with federal government support,&#8221; she said.

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House Democrats

President Donald Trump announced Monday the members of his FEMA review council, which he tasked with returning power to state-level emergency managers.
Trump, who has been very critical of FEMA&#8217;s handling of recent natural disasters, signed an executive order in January aimed at bringing serious reform to the agency. In previous interviews, Trump has floated the idea of getting rid of FEMA all together, and handing back responsibility to the states to handle their own emergencies with federal funding.
&#8220;I am proud to announce the formation of the FEMA Review Council, comprised of Top Experts in their fields, who are Highly Respected by their peers,&#8221; Trump <a href="https://x.com/TrumpDailyPosts/status/1916943942156734688">posted</a> on Truth Social. &#8220;I know that the new Members will work hard to fix a terribly broken System, and return power to State Emergency Managers, who will help, MAKE AMERICA SAFE AGAIN. Congratulations to all!&#8221;
Members of the task force include Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, Texas Governor Greg Abbott, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, former Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant, RNC Chair Michael Whatley, and Tampa Mayor Jane Castor.
&#8220;As a proud son of Western North Carolina, I have seen first-hand the incredible work of the Trump Administration to help the region recover from Hurricane Helene and look forward to working with these great leaders to bring much-needed reforms to federal emergency response across the country,&#8221; Whatley <a href="https://x.com/ChairmanWhatley/status/1917045935286182331" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in response to the news.
In his executive order, Trump <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/council-to-assess-the-federal-emergency-management-agency/">said</a> the council will assess “the existing ability of FEMA to capably and impartially address disasters occurring within the United States and shall advise the President on all recommended changes related to FEMA to best serve the national interest.”
The executive order stipulates that the council develop proposals to improve FEMA, survey states and other stakeholders impacted by natural disasters, and produce a comprehensive report on the agency and how disaster relief was handled before its creation.
His executive order also referenced the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-fema-official-ordered-relief-workers-to-skip-houses-with-trump-signs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">story</a> broken by The Daily Wire, revealing that a FEMA supervisor in Florida had ordered FEMA response workers to skip the homes of people with Trump signs or flags in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton.
“There are serious concerns of political bias in FEMA,” Trump wrote in the executive order. “Indeed, at least one former FEMA responder has stated that FEMA managers directed her to avoid homes of individuals supporting the campaign of Donald J. Trump for President.”

President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump Attend Hurricane Briefing at FEMA

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Glenn Youngkin

Greg Abbott

Michael Whatley

Pete Hegseth

A 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar and Thailand earlier today, killing at least 154 people as President Trump pledged U.S. assistance to the devastated region.
&#8220;The death toll and injuries are expected to increase,&#8221; stated Myanmar&#8217;s military ruler Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing during a television broadcast, confirming 144 fatalities and 730 wounded in his nation.
According to a <a href="https://apnews.com/article/thailand-earthquake-bangkok-4fce87aced74b1fc0cf260fb5454d353">report</a> by the Associated Press, Thai officials documented 10 deaths, 16 injuries, and 101 missing persons from three construction sites in Bangkok, including one collapsed high-rise.
The tremor hit at midday near Mandalay, Myanmar&#8217;s second-largest city, with multiple aftershocks following, including one measuring 6.4 magnitude.
United States Geological Survey experts estimated that casualties could ultimately exceed 1,000 throughout the region.
Myanmar&#8217;s military regime, which seized power in a 2021 coup, issued urgent calls for blood donations and expressed willingness to accept foreign assistance. The United Nations immediately allocated $5 million for initial relief efforts.
President Donald Trump pledged American aid to the earthquake-ravaged region on Friday, saying, “We’re going to be helping. We’ve already alerted the people. Yeah, it’s terrible what happened.”
Rescue operations face enormous obstacles in Myanmar, which is already suffering from devastating civil conflict, not to mention the now-collapsed bridges and cracked roads as a result of the earthquake.
&#8220;We fear it may be weeks before we understand the full extent of destruction,&#8221; warned Mohammed Riyas, International Rescue Committee&#8217;s Myanmar director.
State media reported building collapses across five urban areas and the destruction of two bridges, including one on a crucial highway connecting major cities. A dam failure in Mandalay has reportedly caused flooding in the surrounding lowlands.
In Bangkok, witnesses captured footage of a 33-story construction project crumbling near the city&#8217;s famous Chatuchak market.
&#8220;It&#8217;s a great tragedy,&#8221; remarked Thailand&#8217;s Deputy Prime Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit after visiting the remains of the city.
&#8220;Even before this heartbreaking earthquake, conflict and displacement has left countless people in real need,&#8221; said Julie Mehigan, who oversees Christian Aid&#8217;s work in Asia.
According to United Nations data, nearly 20 million people in Myanmar were already in desperate need of humanitarian assistance prior to the earthquake.

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earthquake

United Nations

World

Alabama Senator Katie Britt praised the Trump administration for firing three more FEMA employees after it conducted an investigation into a supervisor&#8217;s directive for relief workers to skip homes with Trump flags or signs.
Britt made the comments in response to a <a href="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/03/Chair-Britt22.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">letter</a> she received from Acting FEMA Director Cameron Hamilton telling her that he had fired three employees who had a supervisory role over Marn&#8217;i Washington, the woman who told federal relief workers in Lake Placid, Florida, to &#8220;avoid homes advertising Trump.&#8221; Hamilton wrote in response to a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-senator-demands-mayorkas-answer-over-fema-employee-guidance-to-skip-trump-homes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">letter Britt sent</a> on November 9, one day after The Daily Wire <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-fema-official-ordered-relief-workers-to-skip-houses-with-trump-signs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">first reported</a> on the guidance, demanding answers from then-Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
“I am sincerely grateful for FEMA’s efforts along with President Trump and [Homeland Secretary Secretary Kristi] Noem to ensure every American in need of critical aid, regardless of political affiliation, receives impartial assistance,&#8221; Britt, the chair of the subcommittee that appropriates money for Homeland Security, told The Daily Wire.
&#8220;I also appreciate FEMA taking necessary action to fire these individuals complicit in bypassing homes and conditioning aid as well as to provide additional training for the agency’s employees,&#8221; she added. &#8220;As I wrote in my letter to FEMA last November, the American people must have assurances this outrageous behavior never happens again.”
Hamilton&#8217;s letter to Britt closely mirrored a letter that was sent to Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and the House Oversight Committee. He noted that the guidance, which led to around 20 homes being skipped, was investigated internally by the Office of Inspector General, the Office of the Special Counsel, and FEMA’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR).
“The OPR investigation found no evidence that this was a systemic problem, nor that it was directed by agency or field leadership,” he added. “However, it did determine that those in the immediate supervisor chain of the single staff member who engaged in this conduct should have had more direct control of their subordinates’ behavior. Thus, they failed to meet my expectations of leaders in this organization and have been terminated.”
“This action has been taken both because of their failure to meet our standards of conduct and because it is essential that the entire workforce understand that this incident was reprehensible, and this type of behavior will not be tolerated at FEMA,&#8221; he added, saying that FEMA employees were given additional training to make sure they knew that politics were not an acceptable consideration during disaster relief operations.
Britt&#8217;s initial letter to Mayorkas demanded answers on why the direction was given and that he make assurances that it would not happen again.

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EXCLUSIVE: GOP Senator Praises FEMA For Firing Employees Over Directive To Skip Trump Homes

Alabama

Alejandro Mayorkas

Hurricane Milton

Three more FEMA employees have been fired as part of the agency’s investigation into guidance from a supervisor last year for relief workers in Florida to “avoid homes advertising Trump.” 
FEMA Acting Director Cameron Hamilton sent a letter on Tuesday to Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), informing her of the firings and announcing the conclusion of the agency’s internal investigation. Hamilton said that the three fired employees were in the supervisory chain of FEMA supervisor Marn’i Washington, who was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-fema-fires-official-who-told-hurricane-relief-workers-to-skip-trump-homes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fired</a> on November 9 after The Daily Wire reported that she instructed relief workers in Lake Placid, Florida, to skip homes with Trump flags or signs after Hurricane Milton. 
“As you know, FEMA terminated that crew lead’s employment with the agency on November 9. Since then, in cooperation with the Office of Inspector General and the Office of the Special Counsel, FEMA’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) — which reports directly to me — conducted an exhaustive investigation of this incident to determine the full extent of any further inappropriate behavior or misconduct,” Hamilton wrote, according to a copy of the letter shared with The Daily Wire. “That investigation has now concluded, and upon my review of all related materials, three additional individuals have been terminated.” 
The firings were first <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/03/06/us-news/fema-fired-three-supervisors-following-probe-into-crew-told-to-avoid-trump-supporting-homes-hit-by-hurricane-milton/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> on by the New York Post. 
In the letter, Hamilton said that the three employees had not met the agency’s standards of conduct and that he wanted to send a message that political bias in disaster relief was not acceptable. 
“This action has been taken both because of their failure to meet our standards of conduct and because it is essential that the entire workforce understand that this incident was reprehensible, and this type of behavior will not be tolerated at FEMA,” he wrote. 
“The OPR investigation found no evidence that this was a systemic problem, nor that it was directed by agency or field leadership,” he added. “However, it did determine that those in the immediate supervisor chain of the single staff member who engaged in this conduct should have had more direct control of their subordinates’ behavior. Thus, they failed to meet my expectations of leaders in this organization and have been terminated.” 
Washington had claimed that there was a mass pattern of &#8220;avoidance&#8221; by FEMA workers throughout the South for political reasons. The Office of Special Counsel filed a complaint last month against her recommending that she face further disciplinary action.
Washington&#8217;s direct supervisor was an employee named Chad Hershey, according to an organizational flow chart previously obtained by The Daily Wire. He did not respond to request for comment.
The House Committee on Homeland Security previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-homeland-security-to-interview-second-fema-employee-about-trump-guidance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">requested</a> an interview with Hershey as part of its investigation into the incident. When first contacted by The Daily Wire back in November, Hershey said that he was “aware” of the situation with the Trump guidance, and that it was being looked into. 
“We are aware of it and we are taking proper action in this situation currently,” Hershey said, adding that “we are taking action at this moment regarding the situation that you’re talking about.” 
At least 20 homes in Lake Placid were skipped due to the guidance. Those homes were visited the day after news of the guidance broke, according to previous FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell. Hamilton told Blackburn that he ordered employees to undergo additional training to “reinforce that political affiliation should never be a consideration in the rendering of assistance.”

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3 More FEMA Employees Fired After Probe Into Order To Skip Trump Homes

Florida

Marsha Blackburn

Lawmakers will grill top federal government investigators on Tuesday about the failures of President Joe Biden’s Department of Homeland Security, from its handling of illegal immigration to disaster responses, The Daily Wire has learned. 
Rep. Josh Brecheen (R-OK) will hold a hearing to examine waste and fraud at DHS during the Biden administration. The hearing will specifically look at FEMA’s struggles responding to natural disasters, the role that DHS potentially played in facilitating illegal immigration, and censoring Americans under Biden. 
The hearing, “Eliminating Waste, Fraud, and Abuse at the Department of Homeland Security: Addressing the Biden-Harris Administration’s Failures,” will be held by the Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Accountability at 2:0o p.m. on March 11. 
“Under the Biden administration, waste and abuse of taxpayer dollars was rampant throughout the executive branch, including within DHS,” Brecheen told The Daily Wire. “I look forward to working with our witnesses to identify where DHS has fallen most behind in this effort, including FEMA&#8217;s struggle with providing disaster relief, DHS’ bloated contracts with non-governmental organizations that helped facilitate record illegal immigration into the country, and the department’s involvement in censoring Americans, which undermined civil liberties.”
Witnesses at the hearing include Chris Currie, the director of the Homeland Security and Justice Team at the Government Accountability Office; Kristen Bernard, deputy inspector general at the DHS Office of Audits; and Erika Lang, assistant inspector general at the DHS Office of Inspections and Evaluations.
One of the focuses of the hearing is FEMA, an agency that has come under increased scrutiny in recent months after one of its employees reportedly told hurricane relief workers to skip the homes of Trump supporters and for its role in providing housing for illegal immigrants. Homeland Security Committee Chair Mark Green (R-TN) launched an investigation into FEMA after the actions targeting Trump supporters were <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-fema-official-ordered-relief-workers-to-skip-houses-with-trump-signs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">first reported</a> by The Daily Wire. 
Other topics include how DHS’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) <a href="https://homeland.house.gov/2023/11/06/chairmen-green-bishop-uncover-new-evidence-of-dhs-big-tech-collaborating-to-censor-americans/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">worked to</a> censor Americans&#8217; speech on COVID and the 2020 election. The hearing will also examine how DHS collaborated with non-governmental organizations to provide logistical support to illegal immigrants under the previous DHS Secretary, Alejandro Mayorkas. 
The subcommittee will also investigate DHS&#8217;s failure to implement “important recommendations to address waste, fraud, and abuse that the department failed to implement,” according to a committee aide. 
Brecheen said that Congress should follow the lead of the Trump administration in eliminating government waste and fraud.
&#8220;The Trump administration has created a golden age for government accountability in the interest of the American people — and Congress must play our part,” he said.

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Illegal Immigation

Joe Biden

House lawmakers announced Thursday that they will put FEMA under a “microscope” to assess its future as President Donald Trump has floated the idea of getting rid of the agency altogether.
Rep. Dale Strong (R-AL), the chair of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency Management and Technology, said that he will hold a hearing on March 4 to evaluate FEMA’s use of taxpayer dollars. The agency has faced heavy criticism in recent months for its handling of recent hurricanes and reports of political bias.
“For nearly fifty years, Americans in every corner of this country have turned to FEMA for help when disaster hits,” Strong said. “Alongside President Trump and his administration, the Committee will continue to conduct oversight and examine reforms within the agency to ensure it works effectively and efficiently to serve Americans in need.”
“After four decades of experience as a first responder, I am honored to start my tenure as subcommittee chairman by hearing valuable insight from the emergency management community on how we can strike a better balance between FEMA and state governments in this effort,” Strong added.
The hearing will feature testimony from Alabama Emergency Management Agency Director Jeff Smitherman, former FEMA official Timothy Manning, and several other emergency responder specialists.
Last year, the committee began an investigation into FEMA after The Daily Wire reported that former supervisor Marn’i Washington directed employees to skip homes with Trump signs or flags in Lake Placid, Florida.
Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trumps-fema-executive-order-takes-aim-at-supervisor-who-told-workers-to-skip-his-supporters" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cited the guidance</a> in an executive order last month as one of the reasons he was launching a robust investigation of the agency.
“There are serious concerns of political bias in FEMA,” Trump wrote in the executive order. “Indeed, at least one former FEMA responder has stated that FEMA managers directed her to avoid homes of individuals supporting the campaign of Donald J. Trump for President.”
Trump has suggested that FEMA might be scrapped and responsibilities for responding to natural disasters shifted to the states.
“FEMA has not done their job for the last four years. You know, I had FEMA working really well. We had hurricanes in Florida. We had Alabama tornadoes,” he said in January. “But unless you have certain types of leadership, it’s really, it gets in the way. And FEMA is going to be a whole big discussion very shortly, because I’d rather see the states take care of their own problems.”

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Politics

Acting FEMA Director Cameron Hamilton said Thursday that the agency would review all funding and grants provided to non-governmental organizations as the Trump administration looks to slash wasteful spending. 
Hamilton made the announcement after President Donald Trump issued a memorandum last week ordering department and agency heads to review all funding for NGOs. FEMA was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/musks-says-fema-spent-60m-housing-illegal-immigrants-in-luxury-hotels-last-week" target="_blank" rel="noopener">under scrutiny</a> this week after Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) project flagged a $59 million payment they said was used to house illegal immigrants in luxury hotels in New York City.
“Because we care deeply about survivors and their communities and because we want to be accountable to the American people, effectively immediately we are implementing additional steps to fully review the entire slate of grants and funding that FEMA provides to NGOs,” Hamilton said in a video posted on X. 
“Our goal is to prioritize survivors and the communities impacted by the hardest hit disasters. We are doing this because we want to be responsible with our dollars and deliver them to those in need,” he added. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Starting now, I have directed a review of the grants and funding that <a href="https://twitter.com/fema?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FEMA</a> provides to nonprofit organizations.
Survivors and communities impacted by disasters are and will continue to be our main priority. <a href="https://t.co/zUlhW0b2Kh">pic.twitter.com/zUlhW0b2Kh</a>
— Cameron Hamilton (@FEMA_Cam) <a href="https://twitter.com/FEMA_Cam/status/1890204172835790999?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Hamilton also suggested that there would be upcoming announcements about reforming FEMA as changes have been demanded both by Trump and Congressional Republicans. 
On Tuesday, Trump called for the agency to be abolished and for disaster response to be turned over to the states. 
“THE BIDEN RUN FEMA HAS BEEN A DISASTER. FEMA SHOULD BE TERMINATED! IT HAS BEEN SLOW AND TOTALLY INEFFECTIVE,” he posted on Truth Social. “INDIVIDUAL STATES SHOULD HANDLE STORMS, ETC., AS THEY COME. BIG SAVINGS, FAR MORE EFFICIENT!!!”
A group of North Carolina House Republicans <a href="https://markharris.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/markharris.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/fema-letter-feb-2025-final.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote</a> to Homeland Security Director Kristi Noem, who oversees FEMA, on Thursday asking for more answers about “the scandalous distribution of funds that prioritized illegal aliens over the American people.”
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“It is clear that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been neglecting its core mission to serve the American people,” they wrote. “From discriminating against individuals based on political views to promoting woke agendas like DEI, the agency has repeatedly failed to fulfill its most basic duties.”
Noem <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dhs-has-clawed-back-the-59m-fema-paid-to-house-illegals-in-nyc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> on Wednesday that she had “clawed back” the $59 million flagged by DOGE that had been provided for migrant housing in NYC. That came after DHS fired four employees who the department said undercut the directives of Trump to make the funding available. New York officials have suggested that they will seek to get the money back as the city has seen a wave of illegal immigrants. 
Last month, Trump issued an executive order creating a council that will lead a comprehensive review of the agency and explore alternatives.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency Headquarters in Washington, DC

FEMA Director Vows To Scrutinize Funding For NGOs Amid Calls For Drastic Reform

Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)

Elon Musk

General

New York City

The Department of Homeland Security has reportedly &#8220;clawed back&#8221; the $59 million that was sent by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to house illegal aliens in New York City just last week.
Fox News reporter Bill Melugin posted the news via X, sharing a statement that had come directly from a Homeland Security spokesperson: &#8220;Secretary Noem has clawed back the full payment that FEMA deep state activists unilaterally gave to NYC migrant hotels. There will not be a single penny spent that goes against the interest and safety of the American people.&#8221;
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BREAKING: DHS says it has clawed back the full $59 million FEMA gave to NYC for migrant hotels, which lead to the firings of several individuals involved.
Statement to <a href="https://twitter.com/FoxNews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FoxNews</a> via DHS spokesperson:
“Secretary Noem has clawed back the full payment that FEMA deep state activists…
&mdash; Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) <a href="https://twitter.com/BillMelugin_/status/1889735253146869850?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 12, 2025</a></blockquote>
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A short time later, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem also shared an update on the issue, saying that, among other things, FEMA had been funding housing for known gang members at a ritzy New York City hotel.
&#8220;I have clawed back the full payment that FEMA deep state activists unilaterally gave to NYC migrant hotels,&#8221; Noem <a href="https://x.com/Sec_Noem/status/1889745682631721051">posted</a>. &#8220;FEMA was funding the Roosevelt Hotel that serves as a Tren de Aragua base of operations and was used to house Laken Riley’s killer. Mark my words: there will not be a single penny spent that goes against the interest and safety of the American people.&#8221;
Noem hit the ground running after her confirmation as DHS Secretary, and in the last week has spent time in North Carolina with hurricane survivors and in Cuba monitoring the transport of the illegal immigrants who will be housed at Guantanamo Bay.
&#8220;I had a chance to witness firsthand the resiliency of the people of North Carolina. @realDonaldTrump and I have your back. We are committed to getting Americans the aid and resources they need to rebuild quickly,&#8221; Noem posted on social media.
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I had a chance to witness firsthand the resiliency of the people of North Carolina. <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> and I have your back. 
We are committed to getting Americans the aid and resources they need to rebuild quickly. <a href="https://t.co/htF11GbZcA">pic.twitter.com/htF11GbZcA</a>
&mdash; Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) <a href="https://twitter.com/Sec_Noem/status/1889344784923300062?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 11, 2025</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;I was just in Cuba and saw firsthand criminal aliens being unloaded off a flight at GITMO,&#8221; another post read. &#8220;My message to criminal alien murderers, rapists, child predators and gangsters: do not come to this country or we will hunt you down, find you, and lock you up.&#8221;
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I was just in Cuba and saw firsthand criminal aliens being unloaded off a flight at GITMO. 
My message to criminal alien murderers, rapists, child predators and gangsters: do not come to this country or we will hunt you down, find you, and lock you up. <a href="https://t.co/BokRSqp4kr">pic.twitter.com/BokRSqp4kr</a>
&mdash; Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) <a href="https://twitter.com/Sec_Noem/status/1888949747169300667?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 10, 2025</a></blockquote>
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South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem

DHS Has ‘Clawed Back’ The $59M FEMA Paid To House Illegals In NYC

DHS Has 'Clawed Back' The $59M FEMA Paid To House Illegals In NYC

Illegal Immigration

The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/department-of-homeland-security" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Department of Homeland Security</a> fired four FEMA employees who the agency said undercut the directives of President Donald Trump to house illegal immigrants in “luxury” hotels in New York City.
The agency announced Tuesday that it had fired its chief financial officer, two program analysts, and a grant supervisor who it said facilitated the housing of illegal immigrants without approval or authorization.
“Effective immediately, FEMA is terminating the employment of four individuals for circumventing leadership to unilaterally make egregious payments for luxury NYC hotels for migrants,” the agency <a href="https://www.dhs.gov/news/2025/02/11/statement-dhs-spokesperson-termination-4-fema-employees-who-made-payments-luxury">said</a> in a statement. “Under President Trump and Secretary Noem’s leadership, DHS will not sit idly and allow deep state activists to undermine the will and safety of the American people.”
The news comes after Elon Musk <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/musks-says-fema-spent-60m-housing-illegal-immigrants-in-luxury-hotels-last-week" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> on Monday that his “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) team discovered that FEMA spent nearly $60 million to house illegal immigrants in exclusive NYC hotels.
“The [DOGE] team just discovered that FEMA sent $59M LAST WEEK to luxury hotels in New York City to house illegal migrants,” Musk posted on X early Monday morning. “Sending this money violated the law and is in gross insubordination to the President’s executive order.”
“That money is meant for American disaster relief and instead is being spent on high end hotels for illegals! A clawback demand will be made today to recoup those funds,” Musk added.
In response, acting FEMA Director Cameron Hamilton said the payments had been suspended, and the employees who authorized them would be disciplined.
Trump, who has issued an executive order to reevaluate the role of FEMA, <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/113985962341531654" target="_blank" rel="noopener">called</a> for the agency to be abolished on Tuesday.
“FEMA spent tens of millions of dollars in Democrat areas, disobeying orders, but left the people of North Carolina high and dry,” he posted on Truth Social. “It is now under review and investigation. THE BIDEN RUN FEMA HAS BEEN A DISASTER. FEMA SHOULD BE TERMINATED! IT HAS BEEN SLOW AND TOTALLY INEFFECTIVE. INDIVIDUAL STATES SHOULD HANDLE STORMS, ETC., AS THEY COME. BIG SAVINGS, FAR MORE EFFICIENT!!!&#8221;

Migrants in Tompkins Square Park, New York City

Trump Fires Four Over ‘Luxury’ Hotel Payments For Illegal Migrants: ‘Deep State Activists’

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