With FEMA Under Fire, Congress Asks Whether Agency Is Ready for Hurricane Season

Inside Climate News · By Nicholas Kusnetz · last updated May 7, 2025 – 4:01 PM

The agency’s acting head faced questioning by lawmakers over canceled grants, plans to limit relief and a projected $8 billion disaster fund deficit.

By Nicholas Kusnetz

With the Atlantic hurricane season only weeks away, the Federal Emergency Management Agency is facing an unprecedented level of turmoil and uncertainty. President Donald Trump has suggested he might eliminate the agency. Its staff has been cut and programs canceled, while its disaster relief fund faces a likely $8 billion deficit.

here today, more tomorrow

We’ve launched briefing.center with a focus on the press and media.

And we’ve added Citizen Cartwright, a daily quick-read news summary by veteran Washington journalist Linda Cartwright. We’ve also created a new voting rights knowledge center for Citizen Cartwright subscribers. (You can sign up for a dedicated morning email at citizencartwright.com.)

You can sign up here for full access to press and media and Citizen Cartwright on briefing.center.

You can use briefing.center as the center of your information management, or just one of your tools. We’re happy to discuss your information needs.