Four Democrats from North Carolina want answers from the Homeland Security secretary about President Donald Trump’s consideration to eliminate FEMA.
U.S. Reps. Deborah Ross, Alma Adams, Valerie Foushee and Don Davis asked Secretary Kristi Noem how her agency will fulfill core functions of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. They also ask if consultation has been made with emergency management, first responders or state and local officials.
And, in the letter dated Thursday, they ask for specific alternatives for large-scale disasters crossing state and local jurisdictions.
FEMA regularly gets hit hard by critics following natural disasters, such as Hurricane Helene’s estimated $60 billion destruction in the North Carolina mountains that killed 236 across seven states and the estimated $250 billion destruction by California wildfires that killed 30.
“By undermining the federal government’s disaster response capabilities,” the members of Congress write in conclusion, “the decision to eliminate FEMA could ultimately cost American lives. Again, given the grave implications of your proposal, we respectfully request your immediate attention to these questions.”
