In response to widespread criticism over the agency’s poor response record to recent disasters in the United States, the Trump administration is expected to fulfill its promise to overhaul the Federal Emergency Management Agency ( FEMA ). Some employees whose jobs are now on the line as the Department of Government Efficiency ( DOGE ) seeks to investigate FEMA for fraud, waste, and abuse, have concerns about the overhaul, according to CBS News. FEMA employees are unsure about the decision, with concerns that it will cause major staff reduction over the coming years, and that they may be required to renew through DHS for their positions.
A new hiring procedure, which requires the majority of employees to request approval from the Department of Homeland Security ( DHS) for contract renewals, was detailed in an internal FEMA email obtained by CBS News. A significant portion of FEMA’s workforce is affected by this change, including reservists and members of the Cadre of On-Call Response ( CORE ) members. According to the email sent to the FEMA labor on Friday, the new hirijg procedure “does not apply to certain jobs within the National Flood Insurance Program, as well as opportunities including opportunities including jobs including positions including crisis management specialists, human resources specialists, contracting specialists, information technology specialists, and attorneys,” according to CBS News.
One recent FEMA staff told CBS News,” People have started taking their leave and going job hunting.” They have seen the wall’s reading, the author claims.
According to reports, this policy change was inspired by President Trump’s executive actions to minimize the national workforce. The company’s labor is heavily impacted by the new plan, which requires the use of two-year and four-year COREs and Conscripts. Earlier this year, FEMA acting Administrator Cameron Hamilton gave his management team a briefing on the decision, according to company sources, prompting local directors to do the same.
Disaster assistance is provided by CORE employees, who make up roughly 39 % of FEMA’s workforce ( more than 8, 800 people ). A temporary, on-call labor that is also dispatched to tragedies, emergencies, and critical education, made up of about 7800 reservists by the agency. These first firefighters receive funding from the Hazard Relief Fund, which makes it possible for them to continue working despite government shutdowns. They run area checks after disasters, work in healing centers, and provide assistance to survivors.
Employees with lease termination times after March 17 were instructed to submit requests for “renewals and additions” to DHS for acceptance in the email. Opportunities like those at the National Flood Insurance Program and those in jobs like those in the IT and Emergency Management Specialists are free from the new legislation. Additionally, according to the email, all onboard and additional hiring of new employees has been halted until further notice, aside from political appointees.
In a statement to CBS News, a DHS spokesman claimed that the decision will “wasteful spending and bureaucracy,” arguing that state and local officials should handle disaster recovery, rather than national employees.
President Trump has previously expressed doubts regarding the price and performance of FEMA. He authorized local and state governments to “play a more lively and substantial role” in emergency preparedness in an executive order.
President Trump stated during a visit to the Los Angeles communities that “you don’t need FEMA, you need a great position state.” “FEMA is a very cheap, largely failed position,” he said.
Kristi Noem, the minister of DHS, has stated her aid for changing how FEMA operates.
Detractors are pointing out that this change to FEMA’s getting procedure comes just before the Atlantic Hurricane Season, which begins on June 1 through November 30.
Deanne Criswell, a past FEMA administrator, described the agency’s response to a legally declared disaster as “new normal,” noting that there were significant increases in emergencies declared in 2024 compared to 2023.
