Today, Committee on Financial Services Ranking Member Maxine Waters (D-CA), Committee on Homeland Security Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-WA), Committee on Appropriations Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), and Committee on Science, Space and Technology Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) announced they sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem demanding she not follow through with the Trump administration’s reported plan to eliminate the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Last month, Secretary Noem announced in a cabinet meeting “we’re going to eliminate FEMA” contrary to previously saying at her nomination hearing that she “will enhance our emergency preparedness and strengthen FEMA's capabilities.”

“FEMA is the only Federal agency with the sole responsibility for helping communities across the country before, during, and after disasters,” the Ranking Members wrote. “We are alarmed about the mounting reports of FEMA being dismantled and the ongoing steps the Agency is taking to fire employees and take funding from disaster recovery and preparedness grants that improve communities across the Nation. Reportedly, you are planning to destroy FEMA’s 46-year history behind closed doors, while threatening to retaliate against those who expose your actions.”

“Any attempt by the Trump administration to dismantle FEMA will erode Federal capabilities; leave States, locals, Tribes, and territories vulnerable; and cause imminent danger to Americans, especially as we approach hurricane season,” the Ranking Members added.

The letter to Noem comes after FEMA has continued to unlawfully freeze disaster recovery and preparedness grants to communities and announced the cancellation of billions of dollars in mitigation grant funding. The reckless talk of eliminating FEMA also jeopardizes key programs like the National Flood Insurance Program, that nearly 5 million families and businesses rely on to cover flood damage resulting from hurricanes and other disasters.

See the letter here.

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