FEMA was starting to fix long-standing problems. Then came the Trump administration

NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO • June 5, 2025

Under the Biden administration, Under the Biden administration, the goal at FEMA was to make sure every disaster victim got what they needed to recover and be protected against the next disaster. Now, some of those efforts have been canceled, while others face an uncertain future. President Trump has repeatedly said that he believed FEMA should not exist. He has also moved to eliminate so-called equity programs meant to ensure that the federal government serves Americans from all economic, geographic and ethnic groups. The agency has cut billions of dollars of programs and lost hundreds of staff.