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

Trump Rolls Out FEMA Taskforce To Fix ‘Terribly Broken’ Emergency System

Donald Trump

FEMA

Glenn Youngkin

Greg Abbott

Kristi Noem

Michael Whatley

Natural Disaster

Pete Hegseth

U.S.

New Jersey officials ordered thousands of residents to evacuate on Tuesday after a fire erupted and spread out of control in Ocean County.
The Jones Road Forest Fire had consumed 3,200 acres and was just 5% contained by 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday evening. The fire forced 3,000 nearby residents to evacuate. Roughly 23,000 JCP&amp;L customers have lost power, according to <a href="https://www.nj.com/news/2025/04/massive-nj-wildfire-rages-out-of-control-3000-residents-evacuated.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NJ.com</a>.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
WILDFIRE UPDATE: Jones Road Wildfire &#8211; Ocean &amp; Lacey Townships, Ocean County
New Jersey Forest Fire Service remains on scene of a wildfire burning in Ocean &amp; Lacey Townships, Ocean County.
SIZE &amp; CONTAINMENT 🔥 3,200 acres 🔥 5% contained <a href="https://t.co/nxdzQNQ5Ot">pic.twitter.com/nxdzQNQ5Ot</a>
&mdash; New Jersey Forest Fire Service (@njdepforestfire) <a href="https://twitter.com/njdepforestfire/status/1914834324563890401?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 23, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The fire shut down multiple roads and has threatened over 1,300 structures. Local and state resources including “Forest Fire Service fire engines, bulldozers and ground crews” and “[n]umerous local fire, rescue, county and state cooperators” have been dispatched to fight the fire, according to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
“[An] average of 1,500 wildfires damage or destroy 7,000 acres of New Jersey&#8217;s forests each year,” the New Jersey Forest Fire Service <a href="https://www.nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/fire/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">website</a> says. Over half of New Jersey under a “high” fire risk, the site says.
Videos of the inferno have surfaced online, showing a massive blaze burning through New Jersey forest.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
A massive wildfire is burning in Ocean County, New Jersey, on Tuesday. Some homes in Barnegat Township have been ordered to evacuate. <a href="https://t.co/dNfmfAEpnp">https://t.co/dNfmfAEpnp</a> <a href="https://t.co/lHsnotMa7i">pic.twitter.com/lHsnotMa7i</a>
&mdash; CBS Philadelphia (@CBSPhiladelphia) <a href="https://twitter.com/CBSPhiladelphia/status/1914809019035689048?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 22, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
An eyewitness <a href="https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1882868009218571&amp;rdid=XkZbAC2sGE21nXvY" target="_blank" rel="noopener">video</a> posted to Facebook shows flames towering over and surrounding nearby buildings as emergency workers and others move. NJ.com identified the setting as an “industrial complex in Lacey Township.”
Swaths of New Jersey are under moderate and severe drought conditions, according to the <a href="https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?fips_34029" target="_blank" rel="noopener">U.S. Drought Monitor</a>. Ocean County is largely under dry conditions that swing toward a moderate drought at the southern end of the county.
Winds have gusted at up to 25 miles-per-hour, contributing to the spread of the blaze, according to NJ.com.

Fire Engine

Massive Fire Rages In New Jersey; Thousands Evacuated

New Jersey

wildfire

Torrential storms and violent tornadoes wreaked havoc across the Midwest and South over the weekend, killing at least 21 and destroying hundreds of homes and businesses.
Among the victims was nine-year-old Gabriel Andrews, who was swept away by floodwaters while walking to his school bus stop early Friday morning, leaving his family and community reeling while demanding answers from their school district.
The National Weather Service put in place a flash flood warning for 13 counties surrounding and including Franklin County, Kentucky, until 8:30 a.m. that morning, but rather than heeding the NWS&#8217;s county-wide advisory and canceling school for the devastated district, the district <a href="https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1C26ixMhv5/">announced</a> on Facebook at 5 a.m.: “We need to cancel two bus routes this morning.”
As the storms intensified, the district dismissed &#8220;rumors&#8221; of a shutdown of the schools, despite flooded roadways and up to 12 inches of water <a href="https://www.wkms.org/2025-04-07/significant-flooding-continues-to-wreak-havoc-across-kentucky-tennessee">reported</a> in some areas.
“All schools are operating normally and there are no lockdowns in the district,” the district <a href="https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1FmxHeBYbc/">posted</a> on Facebook after Andrews&#8217; had been missing for hours.
The reality on the ground was much different, according to Franklin County local Caitlin Green who told CNN affiliate WLKY that “the rain was coming down hard” the day of Andrews’ death, with “flooded roadways” requiring Andrews to hop drains and cross dangerous obstacles to reach their bus stop.
The third-grader&#8217;s body was found around 8:47 a.m., approximately half a mile from where he was swept away in the Hickory Hills area while walking to his bus stop, CNN <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/05/us/gabriel-andrews-frankfort-kentucky-death/index.html">reported</a>.
Superintendent Mark Kopp offered no explanation for holding classes during the flood warning. &#8220;We are deeply saddened that this horrific tragedy has claimed the life of one of our students,&#8221; Kopp said in a statement.
The tragedy occurred as Kentucky was under a state of emergency, with rivers nearing record levels, the Associated Press <a href="https://apnews.com/article/severe-weather-flooding-tornado-cda0e8803e4e692d162de856ccc6ef9e">reported</a>. Governor Andy Beshear confirmed more than 500 state roads remain closed.
The storm system responsible for Gabriel&#8217;s death has caused at least 21 fatalities across multiple states as of Monday.
Ten deaths occurred in Tennessee alone, while others were reported in Arkansas, Missouri, and Georgia.
Among the victims was a 5-year-old boy in Arkansas who died when a tree fell on his family&#8217;s home, and a 16-year-old volunteer firefighter in Missouri who perished in a crash while attempting to rescue storm victims, per the Associated Press.
More than 500 state roads remained closed across Kentucky as of Monday morning, with dozens of locations in multiple states expected to reach &#8220;major flood stage.&#8221;
The Frankfort Police Department and Franklin County Coroner&#8217;s Office continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding Gabriel&#8217;s death.

US-WEATHER-STORM-FLOODING

Tragedy In Kentucky: 9-Year-Old Swept Away By Floodwaters As Storms Kill 21 Across Region

Kentucky

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.

Tremors from Myanmar Earthquake Are Felt In Bangkok

Death Toll Rises To Over 150 In Myanmar-Thailand Earthquake; Trump Commits American Support

earthquake

United Nations

World

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.”

Trump Ends Climate Work Inside Agency That Responds To Disasters

House Republicans To Put FEMA Under The ‘Microscope’

Congress

Politics

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has removed LAFD Chief Kristin Crowley effective immediately, following weeks of tension over her handling of last month’s deadly wildfires.
“We know that 1,000 firefighters that could have been on duty on the morning the fires broke out were instead sent home on Chief Crowley’s watch,” Bass <a href="https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/lafd-chief-crowley-mayor-bass-los-angeles/3638109/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in a Friday statement, per NBC4 LA. “Furthermore, a necessary step to an investigation was the President of the Fire Commission telling Chief Crowley to do an after-action report on the fires. The Chief refused. These require her removal.”
The Palisades Fire, which erupted in early January, ranked as the ninth deadliest and third-most destructive wildfire on record in California.
Crowley and Bass have exchanged blows since the fire began, with Crowley blaming budget cuts enacted by Bass for hamstringing the LAFD’s ability to respond to large-scale emergencies. The LAFD&#8217;s budget was <a href="https://abc11.com/post/los-angeles-cut-175m-fire-department-budget-months-before-palisades-signed-mayor-karen-bass/15782731/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cut</a> by $17.5 million just months before the fires broke out.
The 3,000-member United Firefighters of Los Angeles City Local 112 stood with Crowley as Bass looked prepared to fire her, saying that she was the only chief who had been &#8220;willing to fight&#8221; for the needs of the department.
“While we haven’t agreed on everything, you’ve been the only fire chief in decades to repeatedly demand adequate resources,” the union said.
<a class="c-link" href="http://dailywire.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://dailywire.com/subscribe" data-sk="tooltip_parent">PRESIDENTS’ DAY SALE! 40% Off DailyWire+ Annual Memberships With Code DW40</a>
Bass was also heavily critiqued for spending the beginning of the crisis in Ghana representing the Biden administration, with the mayor later admitting that the trip was “absolutely” the wrong choice.
Bass&#8217; former mayoral opponent, Rick Caruso, quickly <a href="https://x.com/RickCarusoLA/status/1893019169916067872">condemned</a> Crowley&#8217;s removal on social media, calling Bass&#8217; decision &#8220;very disappointing.&#8221;
&#8220;Chief Crowley served Los Angeles well and spoke honestly about the severe and profoundly ill-conceived budget cuts the Bass administration made to the LAFD. That courage to speak the truth was brave, and I admire her. Honesty in a high city official should not be a firing offense. The Mayor&#8217;s decision to ignore the warnings and leave the city was hers alone. This is a time for city leaders to take responsibility for their actions and their decisions. We need real leadership, not more blame passing.&#8221;
Former Chief Deputy Ronnie Villanueva, a 41-year veteran of the department, will step in as interim fire chief.
Villanueva is expected to approve the after-action report on the fires with the aim of clarifying conflicting accounts of who was warned about the powerful windstorm that fueled the fires. The storm was expected days ahead of January 7, yet the resulting damage still took many residents by surprise.

LOS ANGELES, CA – AUGUST 17: L.A. Mayor Karen Bass announces establishing a task force to investigate, apprehend and prosecute suspects who have committed retail theft as businesses grapple with an uptick of smash-and-grabs in recent weeks a press conference held at City Hall in Los Angeles, CA.

Los Angeles Fire Chief Axed By Mayor Bass

Karen Bass

Los Angeles

Los Angeles Fires

Rick Caruso

The chances of a building-sized asteroid hitting the Earth in the next decade has risen in small increments multiple times since it was first detected months ago.
AFP <a href="https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250218-city-killer-asteroid-now-has-3-1-chance-of-hitting-earth-nasa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> on Tuesday that new data from NASA gave the asteroid known as 2024 YR4 a 3.1 percent chance of striking the planet in December 2032.
It was only last week that NASA was saying there was a 2.3% chance the asteroid would slam into the Earth, up from a 1.2% estimation in late January, <a href="https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250218-city-killer-asteroid-now-has-3-1-chance-of-hitting-earth-nasa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">per</a> NBC News.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
While still an extremely low possibility, asteroid 2024 YR4&#39;s impact probability with Earth has increased from about 1% to a 2.3% chance on Dec. 22, 2032. As we observe the asteroid more, the impact probability will become better known. More: <a href="https://t.co/VWiASTMBDi">https://t.co/VWiASTMBDi</a> <a href="https://t.co/Z1mpb4UPaC">pic.twitter.com/Z1mpb4UPaC</a>
&mdash; NASA Asteroid Watch (@AsteroidWatch) <a href="https://twitter.com/AsteroidWatch/status/1887962600148988215?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 7, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
NASA <a href="https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/asteroids/2024-yr4/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">says</a> 2024 YR4 is believed to be roughly 130-300 feet wide, large enough to &#8220;cause localized damage in the unlikely event that it should impact Earth.&#8221;
Media reports have been published over the past week branding the asteroid, which was first detected by a station in Chile last December, as a potential &#8220;city killer.&#8221;
However, Royal Astronomical Society Deputy Executive Director Robert Massey <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/nasa-city-killer-asteroid-update-earth-collision-2032546" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> Newsweek that he is &#8220;not really concerned at all&#8221; about 2024 YR4.
&#8220;It&#8217;s the kind of thing that should concern policymakers and astronomers, particularly, whose job it is to track these things and refine orbits,&#8221; Massey said.
He added, &#8220;The odds are very, very low and as observations get better, it&#8217;s very likely that the probability will drop to zero, so I don&#8217;t think the public should be unduly concerned.&#8221;
Ground-based telescopes will continue observations &#8220;while the asteroid is still visible through April, after which it will be too faint to observe until around June 2028,&#8221; NASA says.
The agency says its James Webb Space Telescope, launched in 2021 and <a href="https://science.nasa.gov/mission/webb/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">orbiting</a> the Sun a million miles away, &#8220;will also observe the asteroid in March 2025 to better assess the asteroid’s size.&#8221;
With more study, NASA notes it is possible 2024 YR4 will be &#8220;ruled out as an impact hazard&#8221; like other objects that previously appeared on its asteroid risk list, or the probability will rise.
Humanity has been working on ways to stave off asteroids to avoid devastating impacts, such as the Tunguska event in which one <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/history/115-years-ago-the-tunguska-asteroid-impact-event/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">exploded</a> over Siberia in 1908.
In 2022, NASA <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/nasas-test-crash-into-asteroid-was-25x-more-successful-than-benchmark-objective" target="_blank" rel="noopener">conducted</a> a test in which it directed a spacecraft to crash into a target asteroid, Didymos. A data analysis showed the kinetic impact successfully altered its orbit.

Perseid Shooting Star Shower In The Alps

Odds Of Asteroid Hitting Earth In 2032 Keep Ticking Up

Asteroid

NASA

Space

A tsunami warning went into effect for much of the Caribbean after a 7.6 magnitude <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/natural-disaster" target="_blank" rel="noopener">earthquake</a> struck in the middle of the Caribbean Sea on Saturday evening.
The earthquake struck midway between Georgetown in the Cayman Islands and Honduras, according to the <a href="https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us7000pcdl/executive?utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=twitter&amp;utm_campaign=realtime" target="_blank" rel="noopener">U.S. Geological Survey</a>. The tremors hit at a depth of roughly six miles.
The quake caused a threat warning for potential tsunamis across a slate of countries in and around the Caribbean Sea. The warnings did not reach the U.S. mainland, though advisories were issued for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, according to <a href="https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/cayman-islands-earthquake/1743000" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AccuWeather</a>.
No damage was reported from the earthquake, the epicenter of which was about 100 miles southwest of George Town, according to <a href="https://www.foxweather.com/extreme-weather/major-earthquake-shakes-caribbean-islands-watching-tsunami-potential" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fox Weather</a>. Light shaking may have been felt in areas across the region, however. Authorities warned that waves generated by the quake may pose a threat to boats and beachgoers.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Pool water sloshing around on Grand Cayman Island during the 7.6 earthquake earlier. Video via Myrtle Beach resident Scott Thompson. <a href="https://t.co/LcaPfIy5gs">pic.twitter.com/LcaPfIy5gs</a>
&mdash; Ed Piotrowski (@EdPiotrowski) <a href="https://twitter.com/EdPiotrowski/status/1888410553812427176?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 9, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
While earthquakes are common, tsunamis from earthquakes are rare in the Caribbean, with only ten having been recorded in the region during the past five centuries, according to the <a href="https://uwiseismic.com/tsunamis/caribbean-tsunamis/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">University of the West Indies</a>.
Earthquakes have caused at times severe damage, such as the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that rocked Haiti in 2021. In 2010, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit Haiti and <a href="https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/01/1109632" target="_blank" rel="noopener">killed</a> an estimated 220,000 people.

Grand Cayman

7.6 Magnitude Earthquake Rocks Caribbean, Tsunami Warnings Issued

Haiti

Puerto Rico

Sen. James Lankford (R-OK) continued his push to reform <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/fema" target="_blank" rel="noopener">FEMA</a> on Tuesday when he introduced a bill to prohibit political discrimination in disaster relief, according to a copy of the bill first shared with The Daily Wire. 
Lankford <a href="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/02/FINAL-TEXT-Stopping-Political-Discrimination-in-Disaster-Assistance-Act.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">put forth</a> the &#8220;Stopping Political Discrimination in Disaster Assistance Act&#8221; to add &#8220;political affiliation&#8221; as a protected class for emergency relief. The bill comes as FEMA faces criticism over its handling of recent hurricanes, including an incident in Florida where a supervisor told workers to “avoid homes advertising Trump.”
The Oklahoma Republican introduced similar legislation in November before Republicans had officially regained control of the Senate. He also asked Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/noem-promises-to-keep-politics-out-of-dhs-when-asked-about-fema-scandal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">to commit</a> to prohibiting political discrimination during one of her confirmation hearings. 
Other sponsors of the legislation included Republican Senators Roger Marshall (KS), Rick Scott (FL), Ted Budd (NC), Josh Hawley (MO), Marsha Blackburn (TN), and Thom Tillis (NC). 
Lankford introduced three other disaster bills on Tuesday, including one that would <a href="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/02/FINAL-TEXT-Direct-Property-Acquisitions-Act.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">establish</a> a pilot program for communities to “directly apply to the Administrator for hazard mitigation assistance for the purposes of property acquisition and structure demolition or relocation assistance.”
Another bill would streamline approvals for hazard mitigation projects, and the third would encourage communities to be better prepared for natural disasters. 
Lankford introduced the measures at the same time he sent a <a href="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/02/02.04.25-Letter-to-President-Trump-re-FEMA-Review-Council.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">letter</a> to President Donald Trump commending the president’s <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">creation</a> of a 20-person council to conduct a full review of FEMA’s activities. 
“The current federal framework for responding to disasters is insufficient, and major reforms are necessary to ensure Americans are best supported in times of need,” Lankford wrote in a letter obtained by The Daily Wire. “The federal government’s labyrinthine disaster response and recovery programs have not been subject to the scrutiny needed to assess whether it is achieving its goals or whether its funding would be better spent with limited strings attached at the state and local levels.”
“I ask that your Council consider whether more federal emergency response capabilities should be consolidated under FEMA, which would reduce the number of agencies constituents need to work through when seeking federal disaster assistance, and whether other, current responsibilities should be placed elsewhere,” he added. 
Lankford added that all levels of government, not just the federal government, should have “skin in the game” when it comes to emergency response. 
Trump has floated the idea of eliminating FEMA altogether and leaving disaster relief to the states, with some percentage of funding still coming from the federal government. In his executive order calling for an evaluation of the agency, Trump cited concerns of political bias as one of the reasons needed for reform. 
“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 wrote, referring to The Daily Wire&#8217;s report reporting on supervisor Marn’i Washington’s instructions for workers to skip Trump homes in Lake Placid, Florida.

Los Angeles Recovers From Historically Devastating Wildfires

EXCLUSIVE: Lankford Bill Bars FEMA From Discriminating Based On ‘Political Affiliation’

James Lankford

Senator <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/james-lankford" target="_blank" rel="noopener">James Lankford</a> (R-OK) on Tuesday introduced a bill to mandate a full review of the federal government’s handling of natural disasters as agencies like FEMA face <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-rips-into-fema-says-it-is-getting-in-the-way-of-everything" target="_blank" rel="noopener">criticism</a> over their response to recent hurricanes. 
Lankford <a href="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/01/ALL250752.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">put forth</a> the ‘‘Natural Disaster Resilience and Recovery Accountability Act” to create a new commission to conduct a comprehensive review of the efficiency of the government&#8217;s natural disaster programs. The commission would examine how the government is using taxpayer dollars and devise policy recommendations to improve the federal response to natural disasters. 
“Oklahomans know the federal disaster system isn’t working,” Lankford told The Daily Wire. “President Trump is taking quick action to fix it, and my legislation builds on that by reviewing how federal tax dollars are spent on disasters and finding ways to make government more efficient.”
President Donald Trump has slammed FEMA over its sluggish response to aid flooded communities in North Carolina and <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">raised concerns</a> about political bias at the agency pointing to a Daily Wire report showing how one supervisor ordered relief workers to skip homes with Trump flags. 
The legislation from Lankford, first shared with The Daily Wire, would create a 15-member commission composed of federal and state officials, relief workers, and other experts to “examine and recommend administrative and legislative reforms to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and budget funding of programs and activities of Federal agencies supporting natural disaster resilience and recovery.”
Trump on Friday signed an executive order that would create a 20-person council to conduct a full review of FEMA. The commission created by Lankford’s bill would follow that proposal and look at the full federal handling of and spending on disasters. Each federal program related to natural disasters would be put under the microscope of the commission for evaluation. 
Once assembled, the commission would have two years to produce a report with recommendations to improve the efficiency of the government’s response by evaluating all related federally funded activities. The report would be sent to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs and the House Oversight Committee. 
The commission would work with a variety of departments, including the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees FEMA, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The commission would consider “potential administrative changes to the roles and responsibilities of the various Federal agencies involved in natural disaster resilience and recovery.”
Trump has promised to fundamentally reform FEMA and has floated the idea of getting rid of the agency altogether. He suggested handing over the responsibility of emergency responses to the states with funding from the federal government.
“I love Oklahoma, but you know what? If they get hit with a tornado or something, let Oklahoma fix it,” Trump said last week. “And then the federal government can help them out with the money.”
Vice President JD Vance <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/vance-calls-out-bureaucracy-slowing-federal-emergency-response-in-visit-to-virginia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reiterated</a> the Trump administration&#8217;s approach on Monday during a visit to flood-ravaged Virginia, saying that they would work to slash the bureaucracy from multiple federal departments holding up emergency relief.

U.S. Senate Meets To Vote On Proposed Continuing Resolution

EXCLUSIVE: Lankford Pushes For Full Probe Into The Government’s Disaster Response

Oklahoma

Governor Tate Reeves (R-MS) slammed CBS News host Margaret Brennan after she suggested during an interview with Vice President <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/jd-vance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">J.D. Vance</a> that states like <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/mississippi" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mississippi</a> wouldn’t be able to coordinate a response to natural disasters without the federal government’s help. 
Reeves ripped into Brennan on X after she pushed back on President Donald Trump’s proposals to transform the role of FEMA during her Sunday interview with Vance. Brennan said that states like Mississippi, Alabama, and Kentucky would suffer if FEMA took a reduced role in natural disaster response. 
“HILARIOUS elitism by [Brennan] claiming that Mississippians know less about emergency management than DC bureaucrats — all because her favorite Democrats in CA and NC have failed their constituents,” Reeves posted on X. “[Vance] did a great job handling her condescending questions. The disdain these people have for any Americans outside of their little bubble is so pathetic and revealing.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
HILARIOUS elitism by <a href="https://twitter.com/margbrennan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@margbrennan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CBSNews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CBSNews</a> claiming that Mississippians know less about emergency management than DC bureaucrats &#8211; all because her favorite Democrats in CA and NC have failed their constituents.<a href="https://twitter.com/JDVance?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JDVance</a> did a great job handling her condescending questions. The… <a href="https://t.co/YHWqWJhp6h">pic.twitter.com/YHWqWJhp6h</a>
— Governor Tate Reeves (@tatereeves) <a href="https://twitter.com/tatereeves/status/1883581254114930958?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 26, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-promises-overhaul-of-fema-floats-getting-rid-of-agency" target="_blank" rel="noopener">promised</a> on Friday that he would sign an executive order that would “fundamentally” overhaul and transform FEMA. He also suggested that he may get rid of the agency altogether and hand over responsibility to the states. 
“You know FEMA has specialized expertise that some of these states just don’t have,” Brennan told Vance. “How will lower income states, the Mississippis, the Kentuckys, the Alabamas, be able to do this for themselves without federal help?”
Vance replied by saying that the reason behind Trump’s proposal to revamp FEMA was to ensure that disaster victims were able to receive support and aid as efficiently as possible. 
“The president, to be clear, is not saying we’re going to leave anybody behind,” Vance said. “He’s saying that the way that we administer these resources, some of which is coming from the federal level, some of which is coming from the state level, we’ve got to get the bureaucrats out of the way and get the aid to the people who need it most.” 
Trump has said it would be better if states were in total control of recovery efforts and the federal government would fund a certain percentage of the response. His proposals to change FEMA come after he has criticized the agency’s response to both Hurricanes Helene and Milton, saying that the agency slowed its response because many of those impacted were in conservative rural areas. 
During a Friday stop in Asheville, North Carolina, Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/not-nice-trump-speaks-out-about-fema-denying-aid-to-his-supporters" target="_blank" rel="noopener">spoke out about</a> a FEMA scandal first reported on by The Daily Wire where relief workers skipped homes because of Trump signs or flags.
“A whistleblower testified that some FEMA employees refused to help people who display Trump signs on their property. I think that’s true, isn’t it? I read that. That’s not nice, that’s not too nice, is it? But whoever those property people were, thank you very much,” Trump said.
In November, The Daily Wire <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-fema-official-ordered-relief-workers-to-skip-houses-with-trump-signs">broke a story</a> that FEMA supervisor Marn’i Washington had ordered relief workers in Lake Placid to “avoid homes advertising Trump.” These instructions were given in person and verbally, whistleblowers told The Daily Wire. At least 20 homes were skipped due to the orders.

Mississippi Votes To Remove Confederate Symbols From State Flag

‘Hilarious Elitism’: GOP Governor Fires Back After CBS Says State Can’t Handle Emergency Response

Alabama

CBS News

J.D. Vance

Margaret Brennan

Mississippi

President <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/donald-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Donald Trump</a> spoke out on Friday about a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/fema" target="_blank" rel="noopener">FEMA</a> scandal where relief workers skipped homes because of Trump signs or flags.
Trump decried the incident, which was first reported by The Daily Wire, as he spoke to hurricane victims in North Carolina. Trump has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-promises-overhaul-of-fema-floats-getting-rid-of-agency?topStoryPosition=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">proposed drastic</a> changes to FEMA and suggested that he may sign an executive order to get rid of the agency altogether.
“A whistleblower testified that some FEMA employees refused to help people who display Trump signs on their property. I think that&#8217;s true, isn&#8217;t it? I read that. That&#8217;s not nice, that&#8217;s not too nice, is it? But whoever those property people were, thank you very much,” Trump said.
In November, 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">broke a story</a> that FEMA supervisor Marn’i Washington had ordered relief workers in Lake Placid to “avoid homes advertising Trump.” These instructions were given in person and verbally, whistleblowers told The Daily Wire. At least 20 homes were skipped due to the orders.
A day after the story broke, Washington was fired and FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell maintained it was an isolated incident and FEMA workers visited the homes that were skipped.
The incident is still under investigation by multiple entities and Florida has sued FEMA and Washington, alleging a conspiracy to discriminate against Trump supporters.
Other whistleblowers have come forward alleging similar misconduct in Georgia and North Carolina.
One whistleblower <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/republicans-ask-for-probe-into-allegations-fema-skipped-entire-neighborhoods-with-trump-signs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure that entire neighborhoods were skipped if they found three or more signs that said things like “Make America Great Again,” “Drain the Swamp,” “Don’t Tread on Me,” or a Trump campaign sign.
<a href="https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?_gl=1*1nbe5j6*_gcl_au*MTkzOTk4NzA0Mi4xNzM2MTgxNjQyLjIxMTUyMTE0NjEuMTczNzA0NjQwMC4xNzM3MDQ2ODMz*_ga*Nzc2OTM1MzIwLjE3MzYxODE2Mzk.*_ga_CZKR9ZYKJP*MTczNzc0MDMyOC43OS4xLjE3Mzc3NDAzNDIuNDYuMC4w" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CELEBRATE #47 WITH 47% OFF DAILYWIRE+ MEMBERSHIPS + A FREE $20 GIFT</a>
The inspector general for the Department of Homeland Security <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dhs-inspector-general-confirms-fema-probe-says-aid-should-not-be-politically-based" target="_blank" rel="noopener">has initiated</a> an investigation into the multiple allegations of FEMA misconduct, including in North Carolina and Florida.
Later during his visit to North Carolina, Trump said that he was likely going to revamp FEMA and give more responsibility for disaster relief to the states.
“We’re looking at the whole concept of FEMA,” he <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/fema-not-good-trump-announces-agency-overhaul-during-visit-north-carolina" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. “FEMA has really let us down. Let the country down.”
“We’re going to fix it, and we’re going to fix it as fast as you can,” he added. “It’s a massive amount of damage. FEMA has really let us down. Let the country down. And I don’t know if that’s Biden’s fault or whose fault it is, but we’re going to take over. We’re going to do a good job.”
<a href="https://store.dailywire.com/"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-864109 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/01/INAUG_MERCHBANNER-6-3-1024x391.png" alt="" width="1024" height="391" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/01/INAUG_MERCHBANNER-6-3-1024x391.png 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/01/INAUG_MERCHBANNER-6-3-300x115.png 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/01/INAUG_MERCHBANNER-6-3-768x293.png 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/01/INAUG_MERCHBANNER-6-3-1536x587.png 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/01/INAUG_MERCHBANNER-6-3-2048x782.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a>

Menu