President Trump questioned the need for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) during a speech in North Carolina, suggesting that states could manage disaster responses more effectively. He proposed that funding should go directly to state governments, undermining FEMA’s role as a support agency. Trump's remarks contrasted with historical bipartisan support for FEMA, highlighting the agency's established function in disaster management. Former FEMA administrator Pete Gaynor emphasized that FEMA's purpose is to bolster state efforts, but Trump's suggestions have left agency staff feeling uneasy about their future roles.
Our employees have been there for the American people over and over again, the employee said. We already had a burnout issue at this agency that his statement and interview just put on steroids.
Disaster response work is locally executed, state managed and federally supported, Pete Gaynor, who ran FEMA during Mr. Trump's first term, said in an interview.
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