Trump Punishes Experts for Speaking Out About Dangers of Cuts to Disaster Response

Washington, D.C. — Trump placed FEMA staff on administrative leave in retaliation for signing a letter criticizing the administration’s cuts to disaster response. In the letter, 180 current and former FEMA employees warned that Trump’s drastic cuts to disaster response and unqualified leadership of the agency have eroded its ability to prepare for and manage emergencies like extreme weather events. This is not the first time Trump has retaliated against federal employees for publicly criticizing his agenda. Last month, Trump put nearly 140 Environmental Protection Agency staffers on leave for signing a letter of dissent. 

Climate Power Senior Advisor for Climate Urgency Sarah Galvez issued the following statement: “Donald Trump is lashing out against anyone who dares to tell the truth about the dangers of his reckless agenda. Trump has gutted our disaster response, leaving communities to fend for themselves in the face of extreme weather. When emergency management experts spoke up — risking their careers to warn us that these actions are putting Americans in danger — Trump turned his back and punished them for it.” 

Trump’s cuts to disaster response are putting Americans in danger: 

• Trump has gutted disaster relief, cutting roughly 20% of the staff responsible for preventing and responding to disasters. 

• According to an internal agency review, FEMA was “not ready” ahead of hurricane season and was months behind schedule in its preparations. Trump’s FEMA head scrapped the agency’s hurricane plan at the last minute to revert to last year’s plan. 

• Trump cut disaster-response training for local and state emergency managers and eliminated door-to-door canvassing in disaster areas by federal relief workers. 

• Trump gutted federal aid for communities to prepare for disasters and wants to make it harder for communities to receive federal disaster aid.