The Government Accountability Office has placed disaster aid on its High-Risk List for the first time, citing the Federal Emergency Management Agency's insufficient staffing and rising climate-related costs. The agency's chronic staffing shortages have persisted from 2019 to 2022, exacerbating its inability to respond effectively to disasters, as highlighted during Hurricane Milton in 2023. In addition to these workforce challenges, the agency faces threats of budget cuts, compounding the difficulty in delivering vital assistance during increasingly frequent natural disasters, according to the latest report from GAO.
"The Government Accountability Office said staffing levels and other workforce issues at the Federal Emergency Management Agency has limited its capacity to provide effective disaster assistance."
"The report marks the first time GAO put disaster aid on its annual 'High-Risk List,' highlighting areas of the federal government that are seriously vulnerable to waste, fraud and abuse or need transformation."
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