Trump’s Cuts to Disaster Response Left Us Vulnerable Before the Shutdown Even Began

Washington, D.C. – Since shutting down the government, Republicans have deflected and cast blame on Democrats for putting disaster aid at risk. In reality, Trump and Republicans have been slashing funding for disaster response since the moment he took office – leaving our communities vulnerable. Trump’s cuts to our disaster preparedness left the country vulnerable and unprepared for hurricane season, and now he and Republicans in Congress are making it worse, all to protect tax cuts for billionaires.

Former FEMA Press Secretary and Deputy Director of Public Affairs, Jeremy Edwards, issued the following statement: “This administration’s reckless cuts have already greatly diminished FEMA’s ability to deliver timely assistance, as we saw following the devastating Texas floods, and every American is in more danger because of it. Disaster declarations have taken longer, aid has slowed, and critical preparation has fallen behind. Now the government shutdown is multiplying the danger at the peak of hurricane and fire season.”

Climate Power Campaign Co-chair and Former Principal Deputy Undersecretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere at NOAA, Monica Medina, issued the following statement: “Trump and Republicans should spend more time protecting our families, and less time playing the blame game. Their reckless cuts have left Americans more exposed to extreme weather, while they’ve given massive tax breaks to their billionaire donors. Now they’re pointing the finger at Democrats, rather than lifting a finger to help American families.”

Trump’s cuts to disaster response left us vulnerable before the shutdown began: 

• The Trump administration’s mandatory early retirements, furloughs, and reductions in force have meant that FEMA was already operating as if it were in a shutdown.  
  
• Trump cut roughly 20% of the staff responsible for preventing and responding to disasters.
  
• Major disaster declarations are taking longer under Trump than under previous presidents – delaying and blocking critical aid.
  
• According to an internal agency review, FEMA was “not ready” ahead of hurricane season and was months behind schedule in its preparations.
  
• Trump laid off hundreds of employees from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), including hurricane hunters and researchers at the National Severe Storm Laboratory.
  
• Because of Trump’s massive cuts, the National Weather Service eliminated or reduced vital weather balloon launches, which degraded forecasts during previous storms and threatened life-saving weather alerts.
  
• Trump’s previous acting FEMA head suggested halting enrollment in the National Flood Insurance Program, and now Trump and congressional Republicans have allowed the program to expire, leaving homeowners unable to access new coverage.