Fact Check: Trump plans to dismantle FEMA after the tropical storm season.

Fact Check: "Trump plans to dismantle FEMA after the tropical storm season."

What We Know

President Donald Trump has publicly stated plans to begin "phasing out" the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) after the 2025 hurricane season. During a briefing on June 10, 2025, Trump emphasized a shift in disaster management responsibilities from the federal level to state governments, asserting, "We want to wean off of FEMA and we want to bring it down to the state level" (AP News). He indicated that funding for disaster recovery would be directly managed by the president's office rather than through FEMA, which traditionally plays a central role in disaster response and recovery (Gov1).

Experts have expressed concern that dismantling FEMA would leave significant gaps in disaster response capabilities, particularly as climate-related disasters become more frequent and severe (AP News). The agency currently manages a budget of over $30 billion and coordinates federal resources to assist states during disasters (Reuters).

Analysis

The claim that Trump plans to dismantle FEMA is supported by multiple credible sources. Trump's statements during the June 10 briefing clearly outline his intention to phase out the agency, which aligns with his administration's ongoing criticism of FEMA as "fundamentally broken" (Gov1).

However, the feasibility of such a plan is contentious. Experts like Michael Coen, a former FEMA chief of staff, argue that Trump's understanding of FEMA's role is limited, noting that states may not have the capacity to handle disaster recovery without federal support (AP News). Additionally, any significant changes to FEMA's structure would require Congressional action, specifically amendments to the Stafford Act, which governs federal disaster assistance (AP News).

While there is bipartisan support for reforming FEMA, the prospect of completely dismantling it raises alarms among emergency management professionals who warn that such a move could lead to inadequate disaster response and recovery efforts (Gov1).

Conclusion

The claim that Trump plans to dismantle FEMA after the tropical storm season is True. His statements and the context provided by various sources confirm that there is a clear intention to phase out FEMA and shift disaster management responsibilities to states. However, the implications of this plan raise significant concerns regarding the preparedness and capacity of state governments to manage disasters effectively without federal support.